Ronald Russell Locke, duPont retiree
Ronald Russell "Ron" Locke, 80, of Newark and Rehoboth Beach, passed away Wednesday, May 21, 2014. He was a husband, father and grandfather who will be greatly missed by all who loved him.
Ron was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Dec, 15, 1933. In his youth, he was a tremendous standout high school athlete at Brooklyn Tech. He was a four year letterman in football, basketball and baseball. In his senior year, his high school team won the New York City Football Championship. Ron was invited to play for the New York Giants, but decided to pursue other opportunities.
Ron was a very skilled musician and loved playing the saxophone. At many halftime shows, Ron would be marching with the band in his football uniform. He was incredibly intelligent, skipping both the 7th and 10th grades entirely. He was offered an academic scholarship to Columbia University, but due to family considerations, declined the offer. He entered the U.S. Army and proudly served from 1953-55 at the Pentagon, reaching the rank of sergeant. At the end of his military service, he entered Pratt Institute of Design. After receiving a degree in mechanical engineering, Ron worked for various firms in Manhattan until he was hired by the DuPont Company in 1974. He primarily worked at the Louviers site until his retirement in 1999.
Upon his retirement, he and his wife, Virginia, moved to Rehoboth Beach. He enjoyed his time at the local golf courses and his visits with his six grandchildren. He re-engergized his love of music and sang in several chorale groups in the Rehoboth area. Ron was an avid New York Yankee fan and achieved his boyhood dream of attending a Yankee World Series game in 1998 with his friend, George Sestak.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Anna and Herbert Locke; his beloved brother, Cliff; and his dear friend, John Egan. Ron is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, Virginia; children, Christopher (Norma), Robert and Cathryn (John); six grandchildren, Kathryn, Kevin, Sean, Victor, Aedan and Patty; his "adopted" grandchild, Everett Brown; sister-in-law, Terry; and a niece and several nephews.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the nursing staff of the 2nd floor of Beebe Hospital, especially Phyllis, who made Ron's last day a pleasant and peaceful one.
A viewing will be held from 6 until 8 p.m,m Friday, May 23, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 W. Park Place, Newark. A funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 701 S. College Ave., Newark. Interment will be held privately in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ron's name may be made to the Mount Aviat Academy Endowment Fund, 399 Childs Road, Childs, MD 21916, or to the American Diabetes Association 100 W. 10th St., Ste. 1002 Wilmington, DE 19801.
