Lockhart McKelvy Walker

He was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and swung his first golf club at the Saucon Valley Country Club. It teed off a lifelong passion for the sport.

Lock attended the Salisbury School in Salisbury, Connecticut before attending the University of Kansas. He graduated in 1994 with a major in English. He was a proud member of Phi Gamma Delta, and devoted time to the fraternity as an advisor long after his college years. Finding Kansas to be a true home, he remained in the Kansas City area for the rest of his life.

A big part of the reason for his choice to remain in Kansas City was meeting Ashley. They met on a blind date in the fall of 1992 in Lawrence, and Lock was smitten. They were married in 1999 and moved to Lenexa shortly thereafter.

Within Kansas City, Lock was happiest to be found in one of three locations.

His home brought him joy through his family. He revered his children. His son Grayson was a constant companion, golf partner and a source of eternal joy. His pride in daughter Merritt’s accomplishments, especially in athletics, were deep and heartwarming. He volunteered to assist coaching both his children’s lacrosse teams over the years.

The second location was the gym. A fitness enthusiast, Lock’s workouts were the stuff of legend. From inverted sit-ups while hanging upside-down to leg-pressing 900 pounds, the gym would often come to a halt to watch him exercise out of the corners of their eyes.

The third location was the golf course. A fixture at the Wolf Creek Golf Club, Lock was a joyful companion on the course, playing in tournaments and member-guests. He could also be found socializing in the card room, often dressed in brightly colored shorts, usually with small, embroidered martini glasses or Jayhawks covering them.

Wherever he was found, Lock was full of life, quick-witted and boisterous, always smiling and telling stories or jokes. He could quote movie lines that added meaning and humor to almost any occasion. He enjoyed both playing and following sports—a dedicated fan of KU and Kansas City teams, his voice volume doubled its decibels whenever he watched them on television or from the stands.

Lock is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Ashley, and his devoted children, Grayson and Merritt; parents Graham and Anne; brother Tom (Amy) and sister Kate (Brian); in-laws Diane Gray and Philip Squier; sister in law, Autumn Sullivan (Scott); sister in law, Tristin Nangea (Samir). He is also survived by his loving nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and admiring friends who will deeply miss him. He is predeceased by his beloved black lab, Meg.

A celebration of life will take place at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe, Kansas on August 6, 2024 from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Walker Opportunity Fund at the University of Kansas through kuendowment.org/memorials.