If you wish to know more about the Professor's private life, I highly recommend you read his
biography
and even better, his
letters (to his publishers, friends & familiy)
To dissuade you from the idea of Tolkien as a solitary lone scholar, I also suggest you have a peep at the ongoing chapter-by-chapter discussion here (with some illustrations!)of Tolkien's "letters from Father Christmas" that he wrote for his children. I cannot imagine a more affectionate and loving father!