Donald Frank Lockwood

On May 20, 2024, our beloved Donald Frank Lockwood passed away at 86 in Arlington, Texas, where he lived for over 30 years. He was born in Beaumont, Texas, and was the first child of Frank Elton and Velva Armintor Lockwood. He later became the best big brother ever to Mary and Linda. He spent a wonderful childhood in Beaumont and visiting Louisiana Cajun cousins where fishin' and crawfishin' were favorite pastimes.



He graduated from South Park High School in Beaumont in 1955, where he was an American Legion scholar, senior class president, and a football, basketball, and baseball athlete, earning him an athletic scholarship to Tulane University, where he studied physics. In 1961, he received his degree in Mathematics at Lamar University Beaumont, followed by a Masters of Education at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1973.



For 50 years, Donald was, first and foremost, a teacher and a coach. In 1961, at Forest Park High School in Beaumont, he began his lifelong dedication to students. At USL in Lafayette, he was Assistant Football Coach and Head Baseball Coach, named 1972 Louisiana Baseball Coach of the Year. 1985 took him to MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas, followed by a rewarding teaching and coaching tenure at Martin High School in Arlington from 1987 until his retirement in 2011. Even after that, Coach Lockwood became a substitute teacher and mentored students in special programs.



On July 18, 1980, Don married LaRue Chandler Lockwood. Together they shared 44 years of devoted love. She also gifted him an instant family of four he welcomed as his own. Family was always important to him, and he and LaRue often made the trip to family gatherings, especially at Christmas, where he would don a Christmas bow on his bald head or join in a rendition of "Midnight Train to Georgia" with HR and Vince in their brother-in-law version of Gladys Knight's Pips.



Besides being an avid reader, fisherman and golfer, he loved all kinds of music, especially opera and gospel. He loved sharing his remarkable music collection with family and friends. Donald truly lived with the Lord in his heart. He attended Lamar Baptist Church in Arlington for many years, teaching a bible study, and was involved in several of its ministries, especially the Gideon Bible Ministry and Upwards Basketball. He was a faithful student of the Bible and began each day with scripture.



Donald was predeceased by his parents, and his brother-in-law, Hardy Ray Boutte. He is survived by his wife, LaRue Chandler Lockwood; daughters Sibby Adams, Karen Hadley, Betsy Youngblood (Richard); son Joe Max Adams (Donna); sisters Linda Lockwood Boutte and Mary Lockwood Crouch; grandchildren Rachel Hadley, Scott Youngblood, Katie Poland, Casey Adams, Jessica Simpson; nieces Jennifer Spell and Christy McGuire; nephews, James Crouch, Michael Crouch and Jeffrey Boutte. He is also survived by eleven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and colleagues who knew he loved them very much.



In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial offerings to Gideon Bible Ministry lamarbaptist.org or Worldvision worldvision.org PO Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063 or a charity of the donor's choice. On Friday, June 21, 2024 at Lamar Baptist Church-Layne Hall (1000 W. Lamar Blvd, Arlington, Texas 76012), there will be at Visitation at 1:30 pm followed by a Remembrance Gathering at 2pm officiated by Pastor Ryan Gilbert.