James Lockery, Sr.

James Edward Lockery, Sr., 91, of 400 Webber Road, died Monday, November 9, 2009, at White Oak Estates. Born February 14, 1918, in Sacramento, KY, he was the son of the late Pearl and Hattie Whitmer Lockery and the husband of 66 years to the late Zell Lockery. A 1936 valedictorian graduate of Central City High School in Central City, KY, he received a Mechanical Engineering degree from Georgia Tech in 1942 and was the first member of his family to attend and graduate from college. After graduation, he went to work for Glen L. Martin Aircraft Company as an engineer in Atlanta, GA. At the onset of World War II, he volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1943. He graduated from Officer Candidate School at Yale University where he was commissioned as an officer in the Ninth Air Force. He served in the Repair and Reclamation Division in England and France during World War II, repairing battle damaged aircraft. At the end of World War II in Europe as 1st Lieutenant, he volunteered for additional service in the Pacific Theatre as a B-29 flight engineer and was in training when the war ended. He returned to the United States as an employee of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company working in Atlanta, Baltimore, Roanoke, and Cincinnati, before locating to Spartanburg in 1954 and retiring in 1983. He was a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Mr. Lockery was most proud of his service to Trinity United Methodist Church where he served as Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 22, Treasurer of the Hardin-Bethea Sunday School Class, member of the Official Board, and Treasurer of the Church for over 40 years. He was elected Treasurer Emeritus in 2008. Survivors include two sons, James E. Lockery, Jr. of Spartanburg, and Robert G. Lockery and his wife Rebecca Darr Lockery of Norfolk, VA; two granddaughters, Amy Lockery Johnson and her husband Alan of Spartanburg, and Sara Katherine Lockery of Norfolk, VA; a grandson, James Robert Lockery of Norfolk, VA; and a great-grandson, Alan Burrow Johnson, Jr. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, November 12, 2009, at Trinity United Methodist Church conducted by the Rev. Heather B. Humphries, the Rev. A. Mickey Fisher, and the Rev. Dr. Steve Holler. The family will receive friends following the service in the Church Fellowship Hall. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 626 Norwood Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of James E. Lockery, Sr. please visit our Sympathy Store.