Charles E. Locke

Charles E. Locke, age 82, went to meet his Savior at his home in Poplar Bluff, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at 3:17 p.m.

He was the son of the late Jesse F. Locke and Arminta Locke of Dexter and was born May 5, 1932, in Malden.

On Feb. 15, 1953, he was united in marriage to Evelyn Long Locke at Gray Ridge and she survives of their home in Poplar Bluff.

Charles was a member of the First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. He was a deacon, served as chairman for two years, a member and teacher of the Angler's Sunday School Class for 30 years, member of the Sanctuary Choir for 35 years, president of the choir for six years. He enjoyed drama and narrations and he played several major parts in the Passion play and Christmas musicals at First Baptist.

Charles played professional baseball as a pitcher for the St. Louis Browns and Baltimore Orioles for nine years. He won 100 games in the minors. His best season was in 1955, when he won 19 and lost 12 with the San Antonio Missions and finished the remainder of the season with the Baltimore Orioles. He was an avid golfer and member of the Westwood Hills Country Club. He was also an avid coach of little league baseball, grade school track and basketball coach at O'Neal School. He also coached the American Legion Baseball Team to a State Championship in 1967. He was the first president of the Three Rivers Booster Club.

He worked for Shelter Insurance Company as an adjuster for 37 years. He received the Outstanding Claims Representative Award for the year 1981.

Survivors include his wife Evelyn of their home, son Blake Locke of Houston, Texas; daughter Beth Foust and husband Paul of St. Charles, Mo.; granddaughters, Allie Locke and Amy Locke Loynes and husband Patrick of Houston, Texas, and Caroline Foust and Rebecca Foust of St. Charles, Mo., and his namesake great-grandson Charles Patrick Loynes of Houston, Texas; sister-in-law Linda Collier and brother-in-law Jim Long and wife Joyce of Dexter; six nieces and seven nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Brad Locke; one brother, Gene Locke and two sisters, Jessie Lee Bilderback and Jane Gaebler.

Visitation will take place from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, at the First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff with funeral service on Tuesday Jan. 13, 2015, at 1 p.m. with Dr. William Vail officiating. Interment will follow at the Dexter Cemetery in Dexter.

Arrangements are under the direction of Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Dexter.