Frederick C. Locke, Jr. died on March 8, 2013 after a lengthy illness. Born in Asheville, NC on May 25, 1925, he spent his childhood in Asheville, Columbia, SC and Batavia, NY. After graduating high school. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1943 and served in the Pacific Theatre during WW II, surviving the Battle of Iwo Jima and participating in the initial occupation of Japan. After discharge from active service in 1946, he earned a B. S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of South Carolina, class of 1950. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean Conflict and served as an instructor at Quantico, VA. In 1951, he joined E I DuPont and helped establish the Savannah River Plant, where he worked until 1965. He married his first wife, Elaine while at SRP and their two children, Carole and Eric, were born at the old, Aiken Hospital. He was a member of the Jaycees, coached little league baseball. In 1965, he transferred to the DuPont plant in Camden, NJ. In 1969, he moved from there to Raleigh, NC, where he co-owned first a yarn mill and later a twist-tie factory. In 1977, he began working as a consulting, forensic engineer, primarily in waste management/treatment, eventually establishing his own firm. He met and married his second wife, Joan, in Raleigh, NC in the 1980's and they moved to Aiken in 1987 to semi-retire. After completing a final engineering project at Owens Corning Fiberglass plant in Aiken, he retired from engineering in 1991and worked there after as a local gunsmith for several years. Music was always an important part of Fred's life. He played several instruments drums, electric bass, banjo and euphonium in a series of swing, polka, bluegrass and pit bands throughout his life, including the Aiken Community Band. He is survived by his wife, Joan; his two children, Frederick W. Locke and Carol E. Locke; a step-daughter, Melissa M. Brown and several nieces and a nephew. If desired, memorial contributions may be directed to USC College of Engineering and Computing, 1600 Hampton St. Suite 736, Columbia, SC 29208 or Aiken County Animal Shelter, 828 Richland Ave. West, Aiken, SC 29801. Due to allergies, please do not send flowers. Funeral services, with military honors at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery, Columbia, SC are under the direction of the GEORGE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER, Aiken and will be private for the family.