Roger Lee Locke

1941 - 2023

Roger Lee Locke
09/09/1941 - 02/01/2023
Roger Lee Locke, age 81, of Houston, Texas, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. Roger was born September 9, 1941 in Grand Rapids, MI and raised in Muskegon, MI. He attended Muskegon High School and went on to play football at Arizona State University, where he earned an athletic scholarship and was captain of the team in 1962. Renowned for his speed and blocking ability, Roger was an All-American candidate and selected as a member of the All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) team. He impressed scouts enough to become the San Francisco 49ers' and the Oakland Raiders' 8th round draft picks. He was also drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers which took him to Canada for 3 years. Upon retiring from his football career, Roger began working for Anderson, Clayton & Co./Long Reach Manf. which took him and his family to Houston, TX in 1966. He joined Mitsubishi Caterpillar Fork Lift America in 1989 and retired in 2003 and continued his passion for golf.

Roger is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years Wanda (Towery) Locke; his children Lisa (Locke) Gentry, Bret Locke (Tina), Michael Locke, and John Atkinson; his grandchildren Jack and Grace Gentry, Lauren Chesson, Garrett Locke, Pace Locke, Ainsleigh (Atkinson) Baker, Alex Atkinson and great-grandchild, Ella Chesson; former wife Barbara Locke. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth F. and Annalee (Gunther) Locke; brothers, Larry, Dick and Fred Locke.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to MD Anderson Cancer Center.