Ronald Russell Locke

Ronald Russell Locke, age 80, of Newark and Rehoboth Beach, DE, passed away on 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, New York on December 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 US Army and proudly served from 1953 until 1955 at the Pentagon, reaching the rank of Sergeant. At the end of his military service, he entered Pratt Institue 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 6 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); 6 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 pm until 8 pm on Friday evening, May 23, 2014 at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 W. Park Place, Newark, DE. A funeral service will be held at 12:30 pm on Saturday afternoon, May 24, 2014, at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 701 S. College Avenue, Newark, DE. Interment will be held privately in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro, DE.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ron’s name may be made to the Mount Aviat Academy Endowment Fund, 399 Childs Rd., Childs, MD 21916 or to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.