Robert Donald Lockwood Jr.

Robert Lockwood Jr. passed away peacefully in his sleep July 11 at the age of 95. He was born Jan. 15, 1931, in Bucyrus, Ohio, and grew up on Bristle Ridge near East Liberty, Ohio. Bob lived all of his adult life in Urbana.

He was a Korean War veteran, serving in the U.S. Army as a signal corpsman from 1951 to 1953 and was proud of his service to his country. Before going into the service, Bob met Zelma Rhodes at the Champaign County Fair, which was the beginning of a devoted, loving relationship that lasted 70 years. He and Zelma were married for 67 years.

After his honorable discharge from the Army, he began his apprenticeship as an electrician under the tutelage of Ira Free of Free Electric in Springfield. He completed his apprenticeship in 1960 and became a journeyman electrician. In 2022 at the age of 91 he was honored for 65 years as a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 683.

He began working at what was then the International Harvester plant on U.S. Route 68 when it was first built in the mid-‘60s and worked there for decades, serving many years as an electrical foreman. Bob was a highly-respected supervisor at the plant and a number of his former co-workers helped honor him at his 95th birthday party earlier this year. He was known for his strong work ethic, fairness as a supervisor, and willingness to take on the tough jobs that the company needed to get done.

After retirement, he ran his own small business as a handyman. Throughout his life Bob was someone who could fix or build anything. He was a mentor and a natural teacher who valued relationships and loved to hear other people’s stories and tell his own. He was known for his easygoing nature and infectious smile and he was passionate about horses, music, cars, dogs, Ohio State sports, and most of all his family and friends. He was Papa to his three grandchildren and GreatPapa to his two great grandchildren. Bob was a vibrant, energetic man who was actively engaging in various home improvement projects well into his 90s.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Robert Lockwood Sr. and Gertrude Lockwood and his wife Zelma, who died in 2021. He is survived by daughter Brenda Olen, her husband Carl Olen, and their sons Derek Olen and Casey Olen, and son Rod Lockwood, his wife Margie Spino, and his daughter Kelsey Breitenbach and husband Joe Breitenbach, along with their two children Leo and Beau.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Walter & Lewis Funeral Home, 642 S. Main St. Urbana, Ohio 43078, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. with his funeral service beginning at 12:00 noon.  Bob will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife, Zelma, at Terre Haute Cemetery following the service, along with a presentation of military honors.  Condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.walterfunerals.com