John Paul Lock

John Paul Lock was born on October 29, 1929 in Elmer, Oklahoma to Ada Martin Lock and Aaron Charles Lock Senior. At the time of his birth, his father was 60 years old and his mother was 42. He was the last of 10 children born to AC Lock Senior. John entered the world on the same day the stock market crashed and the Great Depression began. He would always mention that fact to people when giving his birthdate. That event in history greatly affected his life and shaped him into the man he became. John grew up in Altus and Claremore, Oklahoma and graduated from Sequoia High School in 1947. As a child he picked cotton and did everything he could to help his family survive in very tough times. He loved to tell the story of being hired by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company when he was 18 years old. At the time he went from digging ditches to working for a company that paid for meals and a hotel room which had indoor plumbing and running water, luxuries not afforded to him during his childhood. While working for Southwestern Bell, he met and fell in love with his future wife, Mary "Darlene" Burk. During their courtship he was drafted into the army and served in the Korean War. John was present to witness the cease fire and end of the war on July 27, 1953. After his tour of duty was complete, John anxiously returned home to the love of his life. John and Darlene were married in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 11, 1954. They were blessed with two children, a son, John Philip Lock who was born March 21, 1955 and a daughter, Melanie Denise Lock who was born on October 10, 1960. John worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for 36 years as an Installer and Repairman climbing many a telephone pole the old fashioned way. He retired when the company split into AT&T and Southwestern Bell in 1982. After that he went to work as a special needs school bus driver for Tulsa Public Schools retiring from that position after 12 years of service. He loved those children and they looked forward to seeing him every day. John also attended Calvary Baptist Church from 1966 until 2012 where he volunteered in numerous ways but primarily as a church van driver. For many years he picked children up every Sunday to take them to church. He has touched the hearts of numerous children, showing them love and taking them to church where they could develop a faith in Jesus Christ. John loved God and said the best day of his life was when he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at the age of 12. Of course he also said the second best day of his life was when he married his wife. His family rejoices in the knowledge that they are finally together forever in a place of glory never to be separated again. John was a dedicated father, husband, grandfather and uncle who worked hard to provide for his family, working many over-time hours to assure that his children had a better life than he. He was a wonderful grandfather and spent many hours playing with his grandchildren and swinging them in tree swing he made in the backyard of his Tulsa home. John was known for always having a story to tell and his family will forever hold those in our hearts. On September 29, 2016, Mary Darlene Lock was able to finally greet her John Paul at the pearly gates of heaven. She was never known for her patience when it came to being separated from her husband and no doubt she probably gave him a little "talking to" as it took him a few days to get there. John Paul Lock entered those gates with God's favor in the confidence of his salvation through Jesus Christ and without question hearing, "Well done good and faithful servant." John is survived by his children John Philip Lock and wife Donna of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Melanie Lock Smith and husband Chris of Duncan, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Ashlee Elizabeth Freeman and husband Rick, Joshua Philip Lock and wife Anne, Jared Christopher Smith and wife Shasta, and Aaron Paul Lock and fiancee Rachel; two great-grandchildren Scarlett Irene Smith and Wade Tilson Lock. Funeral service will be 10:00 A.M., Monday, October 3, 2016 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233

John Paul Lock

October 29, 1929 - September 29, 2016