The Locke

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Kenneth Locke was born February 5, 1917, to G. W. "Will" Locke and Vaneta (Foster) Locke in rural El Dorado, Kansas. Kenneth and Alice (Gfeller) were married June 5, 1938. He graduated from the University of Wichita and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1947 following study at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. In his early ministry he served churches in Lagro, Indiana; Bennet, Aurora, and Grand Island, Nebraska; and Kansas City, Kansas. He was Associate Executive of the Synod of Missouri and later he was the Executive Presbyter of Missouri Union Presbytery until his retirement. Following retirement in 1982, he served numerous congregations as interim pastor and worked for Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America in Missouri and Kansas.

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He is survived by his wife Alice of Hastings, sister Wilma and spouse the Reverend Dr. Don Watkins of Prescott, Arizona; sister-in-law Frances Locke of Springfield, Missouri; sister-in-law Rosemary Gfeller of El Dorado, Kansas; son Dr. Will Locke and spouse Virginia of Hastings; daughter Rosella and spouse the Reverend Dr. Howard Gleason of St. Louis, Missouri; son the Reverend Dr. Eugene Locke and spouse Mary of Roswell, Georgia; and daughter Katherine Klamm and spouse Thomas of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Grandchildren: Laura A. Locke of Nashville, Tennessee; Kenneth and Angie Locke and children Ethan, Jacob, and Cassidy of Wichita, Kansas; Sarah and Christian Fruehling and son Arich of Hastings; Ben and Janet Gleason and children, Maia, Adelaide, and Zoe of St. Louis, Missouri; Dr. Lisa Locke-Downer and Dr. Jason Downer of Charlottesville, Virginia; Peter Locke of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Julie and Max Wright and children Max and Luke of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Jennifer and Aaron Batte and children Jackson and Thompson of Castle Rock, Colorado.

Rev. Locke was preceded in death by his parents, brother Eldon Locke, infant brother Clifford Locke, infant son Edward Locke, and infant great grandson Charlie Fruehling.

Rev. Locke held offices in many community and church organizations and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri.