William "Bill" James Love

     William “Bill” James Love of Ridgely, Maryland, passed away at home on Thursday, December 23, 2021. He was 64 years old.

     Born in Camden, New Jersey, Bill was the son of the late William Richard Love and Marguerite McDowell Ressler. He graduated from Rutgers University Cook College, New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, and a minor in landscape architecture.

     Bill and his wife, Laura Collins Marrow, moved to Ridgely from Annapolis, Maryland in 2018. He had retired from the Anne Arundel County Office of Planning and Zoning after 29 years of service, most recently as an Environmental Planner.

     Bill is survived by his wife, Laura Collins Marrow of Ridgely; three sons, Jacob Z. Love of Brooklyn, New York, Sean W. Love of Millersville, Maryland, and David A. Love of Annapolis, Maryland; three stepchildren, Alexandria M. Beavers (Trea) of Statesville, North Carolina, Roberson T. Marrow of Silver Spring, MD, and Nicole Maness, of Annapolis, Maryland; a sister, Ellen McCarty, and a brother, Richard “Rick” R. Etter both of Haddon Township, New Jersey; a step grandson, Truitt T. Beavers; several nieces and nephews. Bill was excited to learn he was going to be a grandfather again with two more grandchildren on the way. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, David A. Etter, a brother-in-law, Bruce McCarty, a sister-in-law, Bonnie Etter; and constant companion of 12 years, Bear Dawg Love, his three-legged black Labrador.

     Bill was an avid outdoorsman and happiest when he was on the Bay fishing and boating with his boys, or attending a live music event, particularly the Grateful Dead. Bill was a Philadelphia Eagles fan his entire life. He was a “collector” making frequent stops at Goodwill and yard sales and loved antiquing and thrifting day-trips with his wife, Laura, and became an accomplished gardener after retirement. He had a great sense of humor, laughed at himself a lot. He was an absolute people person – never met a stranger. Bill had many friends and acquaintances and rarely went anywhere in the area that he didn’t run into someone who knew or knew of him and all had a “Bill Love story”. He was kind, generous and always ready to help a friend, family member or someone with whom he was not yet friends.

     Memorial services will be held in the spring. If friends wish to send a memorial donation in memory of Bill Love, the family suggests sending them to the Caroline County Humane Society, 407 W. Belle Street, Ridgely, Maryland 21660.

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