Walter Nethery Lockwood died peacefully at home surrounded by his wife, children, and family in St. Petersburg, FL on December 10, 2015. He loved his family dearly, and treasured Riliegh (his dog), his cars, boat, and had a constant love for learning.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Gloria, his six children, Cheryl Gusler (Michael), Donna Costello (Randy), Pamela Reith (David), Kevin Lockwood (Becky), Stacie Davis (Kent Jr.) and Shaylyn Marie Lockwood, fourteen grandchildren, Christina, Ryan, Eric, Brian, Marc, Ashley, Evan, Courtney, Delaney, Kent, Seamus, Aidan, Kaitlin, Kellsie, Kendall and Alyssa, and three siblings, Barbara Miron(Joe-deceased), Miriam Kline (Richard- deceased), and Sonny Lockwood (Laura).
Walt was born in Chester, Pennsylvania on May 25, 1935. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1957 where he would serve for 20 years. He worked in intelligence with the National Security Agency as an Intercept Operator. During his service, he was stationed in Texas, Mississippi, Korea, the Mediterranean Island of Crete, and Pensacola, FL.
Walt continued his education while serving in Crete and received the Academic Honor Roll European Division Award for 5 straight years from the University of Maryland. He completed his college experience by receiving his BA of Arts with Honors Degree from the University of Maryland in 1969 and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Sigma Lambda. While he was in Crete, Walt was recruited to develop a computer program to be used by all branches of the military and thus was stationed at Corey Field Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL. He taught Psychology at the Naval Air Station and the University of West Florida. Walt retired from the Air Force in 1978 as a Senior Master Sergeant. After retiring, Walt moved from Pensacola, where he was recruited by Florida Power Corporation (FPC) located in St. Petersburg, FL., to begin their Assessment Center program. He retired from FPC in 1995 and started his own business as a Senior Management Consultant and Executive Coach. He traveled across the country conducting seminars and consulting for Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC), Pratt Whitney, Otis, and Memorial Regional Hospital, coaching executives to perform to their highest potential. He finally retired in 2007, although he would continue to read, write and coach everyone he met. He was a leader in the field and was respected for his insight, continuous contributions, and coaching he would provide to all.
Walt was the epitome of a grandfather. He would talk to anyone about how much he loved and how proud he was of all them. He treasured spending time with them and talking to them on the phone. He would make a point to attend games, school performances, graduations, and any impromptu event. There was nothing more important than having all his grandchildren surround him at any special family gathering, and there were many.
As a father, he was a model for his children. Education was very important to him as he encouraged his children and grandchildren to excel in school. He supported, loved, and encouraged them in all they did and never ceased to say how proud he was and how much he loved them. A phone call would never end without ending in “I love you”. We will miss his annual call when he would sing Happy Birthday to us.
His love for his dear wife, Gloria began when they were 17 years old. Married at 21, they traveled across the world together raising their family and finally settling in St. Petersburg, surrounded by all their children and grandchildren. They shared a love for sports, demonstrated by coaching and sponsoring numerous youth football, baseball, soccer, and hockey teams. They created memories from shared excursions to Italy, Alaska and across this wonderful country he was so proud of, served, and loved dearly.
Please join us in a Celebration of Life at Gulf Coast Church, 13301 Walsingham Rd., Largo, FL 33774 at 11:00 am on December 21st, 2015. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). A private ceremony will follow at Bay Pines National Cemetery to honor the service Walt gave to his country. The Honor Guard from MacDill AFB will be conducting military honors.
What a great write up. My uncle Walt was very special. We did not see him and the family often since we were states away. He loved his family and it really shows with all of the pictures that are posted. I will keep aunt Gloria and all my cousins in my prayers. We love you and will miss him.
Love,
Brenda
Walt and I go back many years, when we were very young. I remember our old outhouse, that was pushed over. It became our submarine. The door was facing up, and became our hatch. We would shout, Dlve Dive, and secure the hatch for battle.
Walt always wanted to be the Captain. He was showing his leadership qualities, even back then.
David
Walt was a wonderful friend, colleague and mentor. He pursed everything he did with boundless love, enthusiasm, curiousity, and optimism. He often remarked that, “when you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life.” Later in life, his goal was to create a legacy of memories for his grandchildren that they would would cherish long after he was gone. He will be sorely missed.
I met Walt and Donna while attending graduate school over 30 years ago. At that time he was an expert speaker and highly respected in the organizational psychology program. From that point on he was a mentor even though he never knew the extent of his influence. I had the opportunity to work with him many years later and his knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for developing people was so impressive. But his love of his family is what defined him. I have never met a more compassionate person. I feel honored to have known him and am grateful for the thing he taught me.
Lorrie
Walt was an incredibly good friend and professional associate to me. I met him almost 30 years ago and he became a difference maker in my life. I will miss his wisdom and readiness to support, teach or just listen. He was an excellent collaborator and lunch companion. His love of family, baseball and cars were just a few of the things that made him so interesting and engaging. Walt communicated with an ease that I admired. He used stories about his life experiences, observations and history with great ease and impact. One of the many things I loved about him was how clearly he loved great work about people and how people actually worked. He inspired, modeled and shared insight after insight. His friendship, compassion and wisdom will stay with me. Saying he will be missed is an understatement.
Gregg
Walt was a great mentor to me 25 years ago. I had lost track of Walt. He was a large than life kind of a guy. And he was brilliant. It’s nice to read this tribute to Walt and brings back memories. He did speak of his family often. He was so proud of everyone. Walt wrote a paper titled PITA (I still have it somewhere, about difficult to deal with employees and how to coach them. As I reflect on my past with Florida Power, Progress Energy and now Duke Energy – Walt stands out to me, as well as his good friend and our beloved Wally Abel as a mentor, a confidant, a coach, and a friend. I know he will be missed but he certainly did leave his mark. God bless Walt and his family.
I worked with Walt when he as at Florida Power and I was an external consultant with Ernst & Young LLP. We worked together in establishing and supporting the Process Improvement Group with Roy Conner. Walt was a tremendous addition to the team and a pleasure to work with. Fun, professional and always positive. It was an honor to work with him. He made the world a better place.
Hello. My name is Sunny Wexler. I’ve been the Lockwood family hairdresser for many years. In those years, I’ve seen how close and loving they are. Walt loved and cared for his wife, Gloria so much. He loved his children and grandchildren and was a good hearted and caring man to everyone. He will be missed. May God be with you. May you rest in peace. My thoughts and payers are with the family.
Meg and I wish to express our condolences to Gloria and the Lockwood Family. I was stationed with Walt in Crete and later reconnected in Pensacola Florida. Walt was my mentor in the Air Force and largely responsible for my promotion and Air Force success. We became friends as well as co-workers and I will always remember his friendship and advise as life changing. After Walt and his family moved to St. Petersburg we lost touch but I always thought of him and used his advise in all of my business adventures. The world has lost a true winner. Fortunately, his time here positively touched so many that he will always be remembered. Rest in Peace Walt.
I just learned about Walt’s passing and wanted to share my thoughts about him. I always enjoyed the way he loved his family. He lit up like a Christmas tree when he talked about them and it was obvious they were all so precious to him. It was fun to listen to him talk about them. Walt was not only a good friend, he was an awesome mentor. He taught me so much about how to be a good manager and coach to those I managed over the years. I was a better manager because of his influence. He had such a passion for developing people, and his passion was so contagious! I’m grateful for his friendship and thankful for his contributions to my life. The world lost a dear man when he passed.
I just learned about Walt’s passing and wanted to share my thoughts about him. I always enjoyed the way he loved his family. He lit up like a Christmas tree when he talked about them and it was obvious they were all so precious to him. It was fun to listen to him talk about them. Walt was not only a good friend, he was an awesome mentor. He taught me so much about how to be a good manager and coach to those I managed over the years. I was a better manager because of his influence. He had such a passion for developing people, and his passion was so contagious! I’m grateful for his friendship and thankful for his contributions to my life. The world lost a dear man when he passed. My prayers are with his family.