Nathaniel H. Love III, Nat’s Outdoor Sports owner, dies at 67

Published 12:00 am Monday, March 21, 2011

Nathaniel Howard “Big Nat” Love III, 67, of Bowling Green, owner and operator of Nat’s Outdoor Sports, died 11 p.m., March 19, 2011, at The Medical Center.

The Chicago native was born June 25, 1943. He lived in Birmingham, Ala., before moving to Russellville, where he graduated high school. He graduated from Western Kentucky University, where he met his wife, Doris, on the steps of Cherry Hall. After a brief period in California working for his uncle in a chain of Thrifty Mart Stores, Nat served three years in the Army. Stationed at Fort Knox, where he graduated from Officer Candidate School, he tested the Sheridan tank. After the Army, Nat bought the L&M Bookstore, which was off campus, and later opened a bike shop next door to a nearby restaurant. After realizing people were happier buying bikes rather than books, he sold the bookstore to WKU and opened Nat’s Outdoor Sports on 12th Avenue. Later, Nat’s moved to Thoroughbred Square and then to its present location at Wilkinson Trace. Nat was an Episcopalian who served as an acolyte in Russellville under Father Howard Surface. He served on the vestry twice at Christ Episcopal Church in Bowling Green. Nat had lots of special people in his life, all his hunting buddies and was active in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation that brought back elk to Kentucky, and served as state chairman. He loved his customers, all his employees during 38 years and so many good friends. He was a son of the late Nathaniel Howard Love II and Jane Laverty Love of Bowling Green, who survives. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Angela Marie Love; and a granddaughter, Cambell Grace Love.

“The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love” best represents this great man.

Memorial service is at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Christ Episcopal Church. Visitation is from noon to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Nat chose to be cremated and will be placed in the church garden columbarium. Funeral arrangements are under the direction J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Home, Broadway Avenue chapel.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Christ Episcopal Church.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Doris Fancher Love, whom he married on Nov. 25, 1965; two daughters, Lisa Martens and her husband, Doug, of Bowling Green and Carla Anna Love of Vine Grove; a son, Nathaniel Howard Love IV and his wife, Cindy, of Bowling Green; five grandchildren, Kyle Douglas Martens, Leah Alexandra Martens, Nathaniel Howard Love V, Nolan Reed Love and Ella Marie Love, the new granddaughter who just arrived from Korea; two sisters, Nancy Schulten Huston and her husband, Tim, and Helen Love Wallin, all of Bowling Green; and several nieces and nephews.