Gentleman farmer possesses a gentle soul
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Dr. W.D. Lovelady relaxes with his harmonica.

Riding his four-wheeler side saddle, Woodie wears a big smile along with a floppy hat that protects his ears from the pre-summer sun as he moves from his wood working shop to the garden he tends.

Once most comfortable in his chiropractic office in Tyler, Dr. W.D. Lovelady now really enjoys his retired lifestyle. His post-office visit years are quite busy but a good kind of busy he says.

His day begins as he breakfasts with his buddy Monroe and they solve the world's woes. It depends on the time of year as to what the rest of the day holds. Lovelady's winter days are filled with wood working projects like his beautiful clocks. And it's not unusual to find him splitting logs for the better part of a day. This 82- year-old master of "East Texas engineering" has a great set up to make a tough job pretty easy. Along with the fact that he has invested in a monstrous log splitter, he rigged up a motorized wench to move the logs to get them in place for splitting.

Lovelady has never been afraid of hard work. Growing up on a farm in Rochester, he knows the meaning of a full day's work.

"When World War II was declared, 11 of us borrowed the rural mail man's car and drove to Abilene to sign up and take the Cadet exam," Lovelady said. "We were still in high school and they wouldn't take us yet, but we were ready when we were old enough."

On Sept. 13, 1943 he left for basic training in Wichita Falls, moved on to Lubbock and then to Tucson, Ariz. for his primary pilot training. He was the first person to fly solo in his plane. Lovelady went on to fly the PT Stearman, PT-13A, AT-17, A-20, B-25, B-17 and B-24.

"I flew almost everyday," Lovelady said. "I was really lucky that I never had overseas duty during the war. I was a pilot trainer."

The war ended and here he was, a 19-year-old officer in Air Force. He really thought he was something. He drove home to see his twin brother Doug and talk over what they were going to do with themselves. He had in mind that he'd like to sell cars and someone had offered him a job at their lot.

It wasn't long before his brother convinced him to join him in Chiropractic school. Within three days he had made a decision, bought his books and started class at the Texas Chiropractic College in San Antonio.

Nearby San Marcos offered a great place to start his first practice and would prove to be successful for 12 years until the air base there was closed and the clientele moved away.

"I had received my discharge in Tyler after the war," Lovelady said. "I remember it as a beautiful place so we packed up and moved to Tyler."

His practice thrived in Tyler, must be all that bending and stooping to smell the roses. The people of Tyler and the surrounding areas were served by this gentleman doctor until his retirement in 2003.

Lovelady knew that he would stay in this area all of his life. He found 18 acres near Lake Tyler in 1986 to build a little place to spread out. Here he enjoys his family being close by and has a great garden that keeps everyone fed. He tends to his onions, tomatoes, peppers, okra, corn, potatoes, squash and cucumbers and of course his blackberries.

When life gets too hectic and the sun gets too hot, look under the shade tree in the porch swing by the peaceful rock fountain and you might find Lovelady taking a break from things. He'll be glad to pull out his harmonica and produce a familiar tune. If you know the words, feel free to join in. He really likes that.

The gentle hands that once healed aching bodies, skillfully controlled 33,000 pound bombers and reached out to the neediest are still as productive as ever. Wrinkled and earthstained, they still work hard. They still help where they can and they still fold in prayer, thankful for the blessings of 82 years.