John Thomas Lovell

John Thomas Lovell, 87, of Silex, passed away Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at his home in Fenton, Missouri. Funeral services for John will be held Thursday, October 17, 2024, at Bibb-Veach Funeral Homes and Crematory in Silex at 11:00 a.m. with Pat Sorrentino officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16th at Bibb-Veach Funeral Homes in Silex. John was born December 23, 1936, in Silex, Missouri to Orva Zenus and Lilian (Beall) Lovell. He was united in marriage to Carol B. Fitzsimmons on February 15, 1959, at the Second Baptist Church in Bowling Green. To this union of 65 years, they were blessed with four daughters. John grew up in Silex and was a 1955 graduate of Silex High School where he played multiple sports and was the valedictorian of his class. In February 1956, John enlisted in the Marine Corps where he served until February 1958. The couple resided in Bowling Green and St. Joseph, Missouri before settling in Silex in 1966 where they remained for the rest of John’s life. John began working at the Silex Banking Company as an assistant cashier in April of 1966. In August 1972, John was promoted to CEO and President of the bank upon the passing of his father. He was later named Chairman of the Board, a title he held until his retirement in 2017 after 51 years. John loved working at the bank and visiting with all the customers when they came in especially on his favorite day of the year, Santa at the Bank. In his free time, John enjoyed watching and participating in sports, hunting, fishing, and maintaining his vegetable garden. John’s passion was sports including the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Browns and the Phoenix Suns, but his real passion was teaching his girls the sports and activities he loved. He instilled in his family an impressive work ethic and passion for the things they love; especially sports which was passed down to his grandchildren. Surviving is his wife, Carol B. Lovell of Silex; children, Nancy Arnold (Dave) of Wildwood, Lisa Law of Iberia, Joni Lovell of Fenton, and Vonda Sorrentino (Pat) of St. Louis; grandchildren: Jack Thomas Sorrentino, Nicholas Beall Sorrentino (Ally), Michael Caesar Sorrentino, Rachel Arnold Roth (Max), Marley Law Simpson (Cory), and Kelbey Law York (Dalton); great grandchildren: Clara York, Quinn Simpson, Lilian Roth and Henry “Hank” Sorrentino; brother, Paul Lovell (Lucy) of Silex; sisters-in-law, Barbara Fitzsimmons of Bedford, Texas and Joann Fitzsimmons of Scottsdale, Arizona; cousin, Gene Hall (Frances) of Troy; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. John was preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law, Orland Fitzsimmons, Lowell “Cotton” Fitzsimmons and Fred Johnson; sister-in-law Joanne Johnson; and his uncle, Gibson Beall. Pallbearers will be Jack Sorrentino, Nicho Sorrentino, Caesar Sorrentino, Max Roth, Cory Simpson, and Dalton York. Honorary pallbearers will be Rachel Roth, Marley Simpson, Kelbey York, Ally Sorrentino, Pat Sorrentino, Dave Arnold, Gene Hall and Kent Hufty. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Silex High School athletic department or an organization of the donor’s choice.

John Thomas Lovell

December 23, 1936 - October 8, 2024