Stephen Weldon Locke was born on September 4, 1946 to Ralph and Memory Locke in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up and graduated from high school in New Castle.
After high school, Steve enlisted in the army in 1966, and was assigned the post of clerk at
Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu Hawaii. After the service, Steve returned to New Castle and
worked at a variety of jobs in sales and management, including Rodefeld’s Auto Parts Store, where his extensive knowledge of cars and car repairs made him very popular with many customers. His final place of employment before retirement was Allegheny-Ludlum Steel, where he was very skilled at getting high production out of the grinder that finished the steel.
Steve’s first marriage was to Nancy Paul Lawson, in 1974, which produced his first child, Benjamin Aaron(Lisa ) Locke.
Steve’s second marriage was to Linda Tully, in 1980, and together, they had seven children:
Zeb(Camille); Wesley; Jennie; Spencer(Brittany Robinson); Tyler; Olivia (Ben); and Audrey. From these children, Steve had two granddaughters: Ben and Lisa’s child Vivian; and Spencer and Brittany’s daughter, Mavis. Steve raised his children primarily in Mount Summit and Knightstown.
The greatest passions of Steve’s life were his family; motor vehicles; guns; target shooting
(he was a champion marksman); and forging his own ammunition. Steve actually designed and patented a special bullet, and manufactured these in a home workshop. Over the years, Steve owned and maintained an amazing variety of motor vehicles: motorbikes, cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles. He was always working on a vehicle for himself or for one of his children. He also knew how to repair appliances, lawn mowers, and any number of other gadgets. Steve was never idle!
Steve gave his life to Jesus Christ while in the army in Hawaii, and his faith never wavered.
He studied the Bible intensively, and shared his faith and spiritual knowledge with his children.
He often told his family how much he looked forward to the Rapture, and Heaven.
Steve developed a broad network of friendships through his many jobs and through the internet, after retirement. He was known for his honesty, decency, faith, humor, work ethic, and strong opinions.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents and one infant grandson, Vaughan Rae Locke, son of Spencer and Brittany. He is survived by his children, granddaughters, and one sister, Terry Yoakum.
Services will be Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 2pm at Macer-Hall Marcum & Moffitt Funeral Home, Broad Street Chapel. Visitation will be from 12pm-2pm Tuesday prior to service. Burial will follow in Mt. Summit Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.MacerHall.com The funeral home is honored to serve the family of Stephen Weldon Locke.