James Lockery Sr.

James E. Lockery Sr. SPARTANBURG, S.C. - James Edward Lockery Sr., 91, of the 400 block of Webber Road, died Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, at White Oak Estates. Born Feb. 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. At the onset of World War II, he volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps 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 first 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 more than 40 years. He was elected Treasurer Emeritus in 2008. Survivors include two sons, James E. Lockery Jr. of Spartanburg, S.C., and Robert G. Lockery and his wife Rebecca Darr Lockery of Norfolk; two granddaughters, Amy Lockery Johnson and her husband Alan of Spartanburg and Sara Katherine Lockery of Norfolk; a grandson, James Robert Lockery of Norfolk; and a great-grandson, Alan Burrow Johnson Jr. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, 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 St., Spartanburg, SC 29302. An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel, Spartanburg, S.C., is in charge.