Lova (Leonard) MCALPINE

MCALPINE, LEONARD, MEACHAM, SEVERSON, OLSON, ESTRELLA, COSTELLO, TEGLAND, ALLEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/7/2007 at 01:00:53

September 30, 2003

Lova "Rosemary" Rosebud Leonard McAlpine, died on Saturday, September 6, 2003 in Oakland, California. Lova will be laid to rest with a private burial in the Belmond Cemetery at a later date. Lova Leonard, was born on November 15, 1913, at the family farm to her parents, Arthur Wallace and Erma (Meacham) Leonard. She was the first of five children. She was raised on the farm and attended country schools. Lova graduated from the Belmond High School at 16 years of age. She attended Cedar Falls Teacher's College. Later she taught school at Plum Grove, Sheriff and Didio, one-room country schools near Belmond. On June 20, 1936, she married Robert J. McAlpine at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Belmond. Shortly thereafter they moved to California where their first child was born. They remained there for a few years, then moved to Waverly. Their second child was born after returning to California to live. In 1955 the family moved to Piedmont, California where they made their permanent home. Lova was never tardy or missed one day of high school. She was a square dancer for over 70 years.

She was a founding member of the Lucy Standish Chapter of the Wright County D.A.R. and also was a member of the Mayflower Society. Lova loved family history and researched the family genealogy most of her life. She enjoyed returning to Belmond to visit family and old friends. Lova enjoyed sewing and knitting.

Lova was preceded in death by her husband; brother, Arthur Leonard; sister, Icle Severson; and her parents, Arthur and Erma Leonard. Survivors include her son, Leonard (Monica) McAlpine of Fremont, California and daughter, Patricia (Pete Kale) Olson of Jamestown, California; granddaughters, Marie McAlpine, Stephanie McAlpine and Christine Estrella; great-grandchildren, Ashley and Jimmy Costello, all of California; sister, Cleona Tegland of Belmond and Arlene Allen of San Jose, California.

©Belmond Independent 2003