William "Bill" Howard Locke

William “Bill” Howard Locke, age 81, passed away March 30, 2026. He was born November 2, 1944, in Nashville, TN. Billy grew up in Manchester, TN, graduating from Coffee County HS and then Middle Tennessee State University. He achieved the honor of becoming an Eagle Boy Scout and was president of his senior class in HS. As a young man he enjoyed many family adventures camping, fishing and hunting. That love of the outdoors and adventure carried with him through his adult years. He volunteered in the US Army and served proudly as an Air Traffic Controller in Vietnam and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star Medal for his achievements. After active military service and completing college, he worked with over 37 years of service to the US Government in the Department of Veterans Affairs and 20 years in the US Army National Reserves. While in the Reserves he was an active team member of the pistol and light machine gun team competing around the US, winning several national competitions. Billy enjoyed deer and turkey hunting with his dad and friends and was an avid fisherman. He enjoyed learning and studying military history and was a passionate collector of many military weapons and gear from the Civil War forward to Vietnam conflict. His interests also included building and flying scale model airplanes. Billy is preceded in death by his parents, William G. Locke, Jr. and Matilda Clark Locke, and his sister, Sandra Locke Matlock. Billy is survived by his wife, Joyce Jenkins Locke and son, William Travis Locke of Brentwood. He is also survived by his sister, Janie Locke (John) Casey of Winchester, TN and Melissa Locke Cope of Manchester, TN; nephews, John Newton, Jr. and his son, Matthew and Daniel (Madison) Cope; nieces, Julie Newton (Michael) Barton and their sons, Gray, Jack & Leo, Erin (Owen) Brown and their sons, Harrison & Reid and Emily (Darrell) Weatherbee. A Celebration of Life service will be held 2:00PM Saturday, August 8, 2026 with visitation one hour prior to the service at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home. Mark Lohman will officiate. WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 615-794-2289. www.williamsonmemorial.com