OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – Judy Love, the beloved philanthropist and co-founder of Love’s Travel Stops, died at age 87 in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
“Our mother, Judy Love, was the heart and soul of our family,” said the Love Family. “She cared deeply for us and those who worked alongside her and Dad. Her tenacity, strength, and focus will guide us forever. She taught us the importance of hard work, honesty, and the joy of giving back. While we will miss her dearly, her spirit will live on through the countless lives she touched.”
Love’s death comes nearly two years after the death of her husband and business partner, Tom Love. She leaves behind an unparalleled legacy distinguished by her work as one of Oklahoma’s foremost business leaders and as a devoted philanthropist.
State Chamber of Oklahoma President and CEO Chad Warmington issued the following statement, honoring Love’s excellence as a business leader and her tireless work as a philanthropist:
“We mourn the passing of Judy Love, a remarkable leader and visionary whose impact on our city and the state of Oklahoma will be felt for generations to come.
As a co-founder of Love’s Travel Stops, Judy not only revolutionized the travel and convenience industry but also exemplified the spirit of community and philanthropy. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and her dedication to creating jobs and supporting local economies have left an indelible mark across Oklahoma. Her contributions extended far beyond the business realm, as she was a tireless advocate for education, health, and the arts, enriching the lives of many.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and the countless individuals whose lives she touched throughout her extraordinary journey. Judy Love will be greatly missed, but her spirit and impact will live on in the thriving communities she helped build.”
– Chad Warmington
Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Love’s Travel Stops is one of the largest travel stop chains in the nation, with 651 locations in 42 states. She used her success in business to propel her desire to better the lives of others.
Her devotion to helping others led to the creation of the Love Family Affiliated Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation in 1999, and the Tom and Judy Love Foundation in 2013.
The Love Family Affiliated Fund provides grants to qualified public charities in the OKC area to benefit the community and improve quality of life. The Tom and Judy Love Foundation has contributed several millions of dollars to educational and charitable causes.
The Oklahoma City chapter of the National Fundraising Professionals presented Love the Outstanding Philanthropist Award in 1999. American Mothers named Love Oklahoma Mother of the Year in 2020.
Love co-chaired a fundraising campaign with former Oklahoma First Lady Cathy Keating to build the recently opened Love Family Women’s Center at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. The Love family made a $10 million gift to the campaign. Keating said Love’s Catholic faith was ever-present in her work to help communities.
“Judy was devoted to her Catholic faith and the charitable organizations affiliated with it,” Keating said. “She lived her life with courage, determination, and humility. She and her husband, Tom, were a united front in raising their remarkable family and growing their successful business. Judy’s compassion for others knew no limits, and the impact of her kindness and generosity is immeasurable. I will miss her terribly.”
The Love’s company grew from modest beginnings in 1964 when Tom and Judy Love spent $5,000 to lease an abandoned service station in Watonga, a rural town northwest of Oklahoma City. Their company, then-named Musket Corporation, opened 40 stores in Western Oklahoma over eight years.
They opened their first country store in Guymon, Okla., in 1972. It was the first U.S. store to combine self-service gasoline and grocery items. The country store became the linchpin of Love’s emergence as one of the preeminent companies in the nation.
The first Love’s Travel Stop opened on Interstate 40 in Amarillo, Texas, in 1981. It was the first of hundreds of locations that cater to both professional truck drivers and motorists. Love’s has since incorporated hot and fresh food items, truck care maintenance and warm showers into its service model.
Love’s expanded over the years to include businesses focused on truck maintenance, logistics, commodity supply and alternative energies.
Jane Jayroe-Gamble, a former broadcaster, author, public official and close friend of Love’s, said she would remember Love for her extravagant love and deep loyalty to her family and many friends.
“Judy Love was an extraordinary woman with a huge heart for others and an inexhaustible joy of life,” said Jayroe-Gamble. “Her passion for family, friends, community, and the Catholic Church inspired many. Judy and Tom were a partnership made in Heaven, and their successful business reflects their hard work, dedication, and generosity. As we mourn her loss, let’s celebrate her remarkable life, positive spirit, gifts of encouragement, and significant impact on our world.”
Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, issued the following statement, honoring Love:
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Judy Love, a woman whose unwavering generosity, integrity and passion for helping others will forever resonate within our state. Judy, and her late husband Tom’s contributions to Oklahoma went far beyond their incredible success in business. Her dedication to giving back to her community transformed lives and uplifted countless individuals through causes she championed.
The Love’s commitment to giving back through their charitable giving left a profound impact on Oklahoma. Through her visionary donations, Judy played a pivotal role in strengthening institutions that remain as lasting legacies of her belief in the power of community. Her legacy of kindness will continue to serve as an inspiration for generations to come.
On behalf of my wife Maressa and I, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Love family and to everyone fortunate enough to have known Judy Love.”
– Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat
Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, issued the following statement in recognition of Love’s contributions to Oklahoma:
“Judy Love not only founded a company that has provided tens of thousands of jobs across our country, she poured herself into our state, and the Oklahoma City community, impacting millions of lives.
Judy created jobs in some of the most rural parts of Oklahoma, like my hometown of Atoka, impacting the economy and changing lives for the better. Her commitment to community involvement, and helping provide a better life for the less fortunate, will be felt for generations.
I want to extend my deepest condolences to her family during this difficult time.”
– House Speaker Charles McCall
Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said Love’s impact will endure in Oklahoma.
“My heart goes out to the Love family, especially her children and grandchildren, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing Judy Love,” Munson said. “Judy Love’s incredible impact on our community in Oklahoma City will be forever felt. Her memory and her remarkable philanthropy will always be honored in Oklahoma.”
Love served on several non-profit boards in Oklahoma City and also co-chaired the capital campaign for Positive Tomorrows, Oklahoma’s only school for children experiencing homelessness.
She was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2010. She received numerous hours, including a Lifetime Achievement Award and a Distinguished Woman Award from Oklahoma City University. The Girl Scouts named her a Woman of Distinction, and the Notre Dame Club named her the Woman of the Year for Oklahoma.
She is survived by her children, Greg, Laura, Jenny and Frank, as well as her nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren
