Don C. Locke Jr.

71, of Minerva died Friday, Oct. 5, 2018 in his home surrounded by his family. He was born Sept. 26, 1947 in Canton to the late Don C. and Dorothy (Kinsey) Locke Sr.  Don was in the first graduating class of Augusta School to graduate in Carrollton in 1966. Following high school, Don graduated from the Akron Barber College in 1967 and worked for Speakman's Barber Shop in Minerva. He was then called to serve in the US Army.  He spent 13 months in Vietnam in the 1/27 ^th Field Artillery Group, 2 ^nd Field Force. His proudest memory is when his unit helped rescue a convoy with the gospel singer, Christy Lane.  Acting as a Sgt. E-5, he served in the iron triangle area in the Mekong Delta. He was the co-owner of Locke Construction with his father and retired from T&W Forge in Alliance where he worked for 30 years. He is Christian by faith and member of the American Legion Post #357 in Minerva, VFW Post #4120 in Minerva, the International Order of Boilermakers Iron Ship Builders Blacksmith, Forgers Union #1609 and the Barber Union.

He is survived by his wife, Theresa (Keen) Locke whom he married May 14, 1988, daughter, Angie (Mike Crowl) Locke of Minerva, son, T. Jay (Staci) Locke of Minerva, a sister, Karen (Bill) Gruszecki of Lisbon, 3 grandchildren, Kayla (Zach Offenberger) Locke of Minerva, Tyler (Danielle Curry) Locke of Robertsville, Maddox B. Fenton of Minerva, mother-in-law, Renda Keen, nephew, Mark (Richi Gatrell) Gruszecki, niece, Lori (John) Tucker, his best friend, Dave Freshly of Johnstown, and his 2 special dogs, Maggie May and Missy. He is preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law, Jesse Keen, mother-in-law, Patricia (Halcomb) Kidd, several aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11:00 am in the Gotschall-Hutchison Funeral Home with Brother Frank Walton officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in Augusta Cemetery. Calling hours will be Monday 6-8 pm and one hour prior to services on Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to Crossroads Hospice or to the family to help with expenses.