Bill Lock, 87, Chanute, went to be with his Lord and Saviour on Saturday, October 23, 2010 with his cat and loyal companion, Miss Kitty, and family by his side.

He was born on a farm west of Sterling, Colorado to Clyde and Bertha (Maddex) Lock on June 1, 1923. He moved to LaPlata, Mo., when he was a freshman in high school and graduated from there.

He joined the Navy to fight in WWII from 1942-1945.

He met his love, Lorena Snart, while living in LaPlata and they married when the war was over in 1945. They were married 61 years. She preceded him in eternal life, November 3, 2006.

They moved to Chanute in the early 50’s. He worked for Dr. Pepper and Page Milk in early years in Chanute and then went on to be a self employed carpenter for six years. In 1975 he went to work for School District 413 as Buildings and Grounds Supervisor until his retirement in 1992. He started Bill’s Lock and Key Service working as a locksmith while still employed with the school and retired from there in 1996.

Bill was one of the founding fathers of the Chanute Bottle and Relic Club and served as program chairman for their annual shows as well as holding other offices. He was known for his many collections through the years. Fred Robertson made mention at Bill and Lorena’s 40th wedding anniversary that it said a lot for Lorena, as he had held on to her for 40 years and had not traded her in for a new collector’s item.

He was a member of the Christian Church in Chanute for over 50 years, where he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour in 1954. He was also a member of Boerstle-May Post #170 American Legion and Cecil J. Meeker Post #1654 V.F.W.

Survivors include one daughter, Debbie Burnett and her husband, Jesse, of rural Erie; a son-in-law, Darrel Brown of Bandera, Texas; grandchildren, Jeff Brown and his wife, Patricia, of Chanute, Conor Brown and his wife, Kira, of Bandera, Texas, DeNeil Smith and her husband, Scott, of Sarcoxie, Mo.; stepgrandchildren, David Burnett and his wife, Gina, of Erie, Kyra Freeman and her husband, Marc, of St. Paul, Shellie Burnett of Parsons, and welcomed in as family, Zachary and Teresa Wright. He was blessed with 16 great-grandchildren.

Others that went on before him are his parents, Clyde and Bertha Lock; two sisters who died as young children; and a sister, Hazel of Sterling, Colorado. His daughter, Jody, passed June 3, 2009.

Bill enjoyed woodworking in his shop for many years. He very much enjoyed fishing and wood carving. He enjoyed being with his family and friends and was a wonderful daddy and grandpa who will be greatly missed until the day we join him again.

A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Ambassador Christian Church, 4001 S. Johnson Road, Chanute, with Pastors Tom Eastman and David McCoy officiating.

Visitation will be held this evening, October 26, 2010 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel. Burial will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Humboldt, KS.

Memorials in his name may be made to Horizon Hospice, SEK Mental Health Area Agency on Aging or Castaways Animal Shelter and Sanctuary LTD, and may be left with the funeral home.

Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

“To leave a special message for the family on-line, visit www.PenwellGabelChanute.com”