Earle W. Lovering died in Tacoma on March 4, 2003. He was 85 years old.

Mr. Lovering was born in Massachusetts on May 14, 1917. He married Geraldine Chase in Maine on Aug. 31, 1940.

After his retirement from Scovil Manufacturing in Waterbury, Conn. and Chicago Extruded Metals in Chicago, the Loverings moved to Vashon, where he was a 17-year resident. He loved the island, the Pacific Northwest and Puget Sound. His retirement years were happy ones.

Survivors include his wife Geraldine Chase Lovering, who lives in Tacoma, son Richard C. Lovering of Gold Beach and daughters Sarah Johnson of Rowayton, Conn., and Francis Rounds of Ann Arbor, Mich., as well as three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorials can be sent to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma or the Vashon Public Library.

Mr. Lovering left his body to the Department of Medicine, University of Washington.