Leslie Locke

Leslie David Locke was born on May 14, 1925 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the eldest son of American parents, Harvey and Evelyn Locke. Harvey was a minister and the family moved throughout Alberta and finally settled in Bellingham, Washington when Les was ten years old.

During his early childhood, Les was fascinated by the military. The Canadian mounted police were his first heroes. After moving to Bellingham and spending countless hours on the Navy ships moored at the deep sea port there, he turned his sights on a Navy career.

World War II started in Europe when Les was fourteen and having dual citizenship, Les developed a plan to return to Canada and live with his grandmother until he was old enough to enlist in the Canadian Navy. The attack on Pearl Harbor came before he could work out his plan, so instead, he decided to enlist as soon as he turned seventeen, and convinced his mother to sign for him. Les recounts that he haunted the Navy/Marine Corps recruiting office until his seventeenth birthday.

He had set up and appointment with a Marine recruiter, but when the recruiter failed to show up, Les enlisted in the US Navy. He was sworn in on 7 June 1942 at 11 o’clock, exactly 6 months to the minute from the attack on Pearl Harbor. The oath was read by President Roosevelt, over a nationwide broadcast and those who took the oath became known as the “Pearl Harbor Avengers”.

Les was assigned to Naval Aviation and received his Aerial Gunners sleeve, although he had never been in an airplane. He was then assigned to a fighter aircraft, though his squadrons never saw any combat or sea duty. After the war, Les was discharged with a rank of US Navy Petty Officer Second Class/E-5.

After two years, Les decided to re-enlist, and because the Navy would not give him his rank back, he checked with the newly created Air Force. They were willing to bring him in at his old rank and his first assignment was to Howard AF Base in Panama because they had an opening for an aerial gunner. When he reported for duty he was told that since the war was over, they no longer had a need for an aerial gunner, asked if he could type, and because he could, they assigned him as an entertainment specialist.

During his Air Force career, Les was stationed at several bases the USA as well as Panama, Japan and Germany before retiring in 1965 as a Master Sergeant/E-7.

After retiring, Les began working for Martin Business Machines in San Bernardino as a field repairman, a position he held for another 15 years.

In addition to his military career, Les was also a family man. He met and married Dorothy Acton in 1950 and they had three children together, divorcing in 1969. In 1980, he and his second wife, Ruth, moved to Kailua, Hawaii, where they lived until her death. Les returned to the mainland and settled in Escondido, California, where he met Eleanor (Penny) Hauser. They fell in love and were married on February 1, 1992. Over the next several years Les and Penny traveled and truly blended both the Locke and Hauser families as one.

Les spent 6 years working as a volunteer for Elizabeth Hospice, and was very active in the Escondido Nazarene Church. He also enjoyed gardening, working crossword puzzles and researching and playing on his computer.

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2006 and in spite of his failing health, the loss of most of his motor control and his failure to effectively speak; Les never lost his sense of humor. He had great joy in spending time with his great-grandson, Kegan, and they developed a special bond over the last couple of years.

Les is survived by his loving wife Eleanor, sons David (Marie) Locke of Lake Elsinore and Greg (Stella) Locke of Moreno Valley. Grandchildren, Megan Locke-Beck, Dorothy (David) Mancinelli, Kaylene Locke, Nicole (Nick) Urbanski, and Bob Locke. Great grandchildren, Kegan Beck and Seth and Zach Mancinelli. Siblings, Keith (Barbara) Locke, Pauline (Lew) Lewis, Earl (Rosie) Locke, Darlene (Ralph) Zeltner and Larry (Joanne) Locke. Les was preceded in death by his daughter, Frances Locke Wallace, and brother, Walt Locke.

Les also leaves behind; 4 stepsons Tom, Bruce, Dean and David Hauser, their wives, 7 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday September 10, 2014 at 11:00am at McLeod Mortuary 1919 East Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA followed by interment at Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego, CA at 2:30pm.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Wounded Warrior Project. www.woundedwarriorproject.org