William Grim Locke

Lt. Col. W. Grim Locke, USAF (Ret.) died July 11, 2023. in Austin, TX. The son of Frank Murray and Jeannette Joyner Locke was born 16 January 1926 in Ashdown, Arkansas. Following graduation from Ashdown High School, he attended the University of Arkansas, where he played football and basketball. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy and was assigned to the V-12 program at the University of Louisville. He was discharged from the Navy in order to enter the U. S. Military Academy. Upon graduation in 1948, he was commissioned as an officer in the U. S. Army and then transferred to the U.S. Air Force. Before reporting to Randolph AFB for flight training, Grim and Sharon Hooper were married on 26 June in Athens, Texas. Sharon was an accomplished pianist who studied piano at SMU and the University of Texas before leaving with Grim to move around the world as they raised their four daughters. Upon completion of flight training, Grim was assigned to a jet fighter squadron on Cape Cod, MA. He was sent to the Aircraft Controller's School at Tyndall AFB, FL, and later instructed there before being deployed to Okinawa during the Korean War. Returning stateside, he was assigned to a jet fighter squadron and then the Western Air Defense Force HQ. at Hamilton AFB, CA. In that position, he coordinated the introduction of the F-102 to squadrons along the West Coast. After graduating from the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell AFB, AL, Grim was assigned as a fighter advisor to the Royal Thai Air Force in Bangkok, Thailand. Sharon did a magnificent job of packing and taking care of their four girls during five days of travel by MATS, and all of them adapted well to the unusual conditions they encountered in a foreign land. As an extra duty during the Vietnam War, Grim provided support to USAF and U. S. Marine units deployed to bases in Thailand. He was next assigned to attend the Harvard Business School, where he was elected President of the Student Association by his classmates and received an MBA degree With Distinction. From there he went to HQ. USAF and became manager of a $150 million program. While at the Pentagon, he was transferred to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, from which he retired in 1969. After retirement from USAF Grim accepted a position with Dallas-based University Computing (to return to a life closer to family in Texas and Arkansas). A consummate competitor and man of many interests, Grim enjoyed playing bridge, golf, dominoes, pool (a true master of the green felt), card games of all kinds, opera, basketball with his daughters and grandchildren, football on the lawn of their many homes around the world, Chopin Nocturnes, reading, crossword puzzles, dancing, singing, laughing, regaling friends with tales of his youth on the family farms in Arkansas, hearing stories of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and writing long letters and emails to many around the world. Grim was also a wonderful portrait and travel photographer. The Locke family has a beautiful collection of his family portraits and exotic locations. He watched an Around the World Best Slide Show just ten days ago that amazed the audience. He and Frances Locke Winters, his sister, formed a family limited partnership to own and operate Arkansas farms and timberlands inherited from their parents. Grim served as the Managing Partner and oversaw the planting of pine prairies and undertook other responsible forestry initiatives that were recognized with awards from the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and WWF (World Wildlife Fund). We thank the forestry team in Ashdown, AR for their work earning the honors. His daughters will continue the family business. Throughout his life, Grim's name was a source of curiosity and comment. He was named for a Texarkana businessman, Mr. Grim, who helped save the Locke family farms during the Depression. Grim's name was not a reflection of his character! Grim and Sharon took the lessons learned from their early years in rural Arkansas and brought to bear on their 60 years of marriage and parenting of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They were wonderful stewards of their families' heritage preserving the memories and stories of those who went before them. Grim was remarried to Carolyn Lewis and lived in Ruston, LA until her death. He then moved to Austin, TX to be close to two of his daughters and continued enjoying new friendships at his independent living community. Grim, and Sharon, are survived by their four daughters, 9 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren: Charmaine Locke (James Surls) of Carbondale, CO; Charisse Locke Mayer (David Mayer), of Providence, RI; Sharon Reed (Rod Reed) of Atherton, CA; and Stacey Locke, of Austin, TX.; 9 Grandchildren: Ruby Surls, Albert Mayer, Lily Surls, Zachary Mayer, Eva Surls, Andrew Reed, Will Reed, Molly Surls, Austin Mayer 11 Great-grandchildren: Aberdeen Kennedy; Alice, Louisa, and Helena Mayer; McQueen and Savoir Mayer; and Vesper Mayer; Taylor and Zoe Reed; River Surlssmith and Adona Canul