William Green Locke, Jr. (Johnny), 94, died November 7, 2015 at McArthur Manor Assisted Living in Manchester, TN, after an extended illness. Mr. Locke was born on May 4, 1921 in Nashville, Tennessee. His parents were William G. Locke Sr. and Mary Patterson Locke. He was the oldest of four children. Mr. Locke’s father died when he was seven, leaving him to assist his mother in raising his three younger siblings at his grandparent’s farm near Triune, TN.
After graduation from Murfreesboro High School in 1939, the family moved back to Nashville where he worked to help support his family. Mr. Locke joined the US Navy and served as a radar instructor in Corpus Christi TX during World War II. In 1943 he married Martha Matilda Clark of Winchester, TN. Following the war, Mr. Locke worked in Nashville as an electrician and in 1951, moved his family to Alto, TN taking a job as an electrician at Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold Air Force Base, TN.
In 1954, he and his family moved to Manchester, TN where he continued to work at AEDC until his retirement in 1982 as manager of Work Control. He was active in the First United Methodist Church in Manchester, serving as its maintenance manager and president of his Sunday School Class for many years. He will be remembered for his quick wit, his friendly smile and love of God, family and friends.
Mr. Locke is survived by his wife of 72 years, Matilda, one son, William H. Locke, Brentwood, TN, and three daughters, Martha Jane Casey, Winchester, TN; Melissa Annette Cope, Manchester, TN; Sandra Elaine Matlock, Estill Springs, TN. Mr. Locke was also blessed with six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. One sister, Sara Jane Brinkley, of Goodlettsville, TN, also survives him. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. In addition to his parents, one sister, Mary Lou Swift, brother, Roy Howard Locke, and great grandson, Edward Locke Anderson preceded him in death.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is handling the funeral arrangements in Manchester. His funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 10, at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Manchester, TN followed by interment at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Tullahoma, TN. Visitation will be held Monday, November 9, 2015 from 5:00PM until 8:00 PM at Coffee County Funeral Chapel.
His family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to
First United Methodist Church, Manchester, TN, McArthur
Manor Assisted Living Facility, Manchester, TN, Hospice
Compassus, Tullahoma, TN, or Boy Scouts of America.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Locke family.