When he wrote the Hobbit and later the Lord of the Rings Trilogy it was almost as an afterthought, and his real work, that his son later summarized in the Silmarillion, was not published during his lifetime.
On his grave, it says:
†
EDITH MARY TOLKIEN
LUTHIEN
1889 - 1971
JOHN RONALD
REUEL TOLKIEN
BEREN
1892 - 1973
Lúthien Tinúviel, one the most amazing and important of the Middle-earth heroes, was inspired by his wife and even mentioned on her grave. I don't think it can be much more romantic than that...
Rest in peace, Professor Tolkien.
Image Source: Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)