William Sweet Locke

William Sweet Locke passed away with his wife, Jane at his side, on May 16, 2025 at his home in Florida.
Sharing a birthday with his mother, he was born on November 12, 1931 in Orange, New Jersey, son of Walter James and Paulyne (Sweet) Locke. He has an older sister Sharon (Locke) MacCartney who lives in New Hampshire.
He married Marianne Griffith, November 24, 1957 with whom he had his only son, Stephan James. She passed away in 1962. He married Jane Ann Eytcheson on July 23, 1967. They shared a life together with daughters Jacinda Hope and Kyla Marie soon joining the family.
William (Bill) served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict.
He was proud of being a registered professional engineer. His professional career included: Manager, engineer, International Harvester, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1956-1971; general manager, Dura Corporation, Paris, Kentucky, 1971-1982; president, Weaver Corporation, Paris, 1982-1983; vice president engineering, Knoll International, East Greenville, Pennsylvania, 1983-1986; president, Talbert Manufacturing Corporation, Rensselaer, Indiana, 1986-1992; general manager, executive vice president, Chartered Management Institute Corporation, Oklahoma City, 1992-1995.
He was most proud of his family. He shared his love of the water with all of us; swimming, skiing, sailing, kayaking, walking on the beach and looking out over the ocean. He adored his ocean view! He also shared his many and varied hobbies of tennis, Lionel trains, player pianos, ragtime music, books, Art Deco and of course automobiles (and their repair). He spent a lot of time tinkering and playing with his collections.
A long-time, ardent collector of distinctive, vintage automobiles Bill had the privilege of owning and driving the finest cars the industry could provide for over half a century. He was a member of the Classic Car Club, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club and others for most of those years and wrote articles of automotive history including the definitive history of the Elcar automobile, his first car. His sister Sharon said it best, "second only to his family, was that love of old cars."
We pay tribute to William Sweet Locke, beloved brother, husband, father, grandfather, gentleman, decent, courageous human being.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jane Locke, of Bonita Beach, FL; son Stephan Locke of Richmond, KY; daughters Jacinda Locke of Naperville, IL and Kyla Nelson of Naples, FL. He is also survived by his sister Sharon MacCartney of Peterborough, NH along with many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Bill's life at Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home on July 12, 2025 at 10:00 am.
A burial service will be held in Fulton, Indiana at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Hope Hospice (directed to Bonita Springs Joanne's House) would be greatly appreciated by the family.
To sign Bill's guest register or leave condolences online, please visit www.ShikanyFuneralHome.com.
Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home – Family Owned and Operated Since 1978.