William E. Lockwood

William E. Lockwood, 91, of Hendersonville passed away Sunday, March 2, 2014, at Pardee Memorial Hospital.

He was born in Fresno, California, the son of the late Juliet Lee (Knopp) and William E. Lockwood, and was also preceded in death by his twin brother Glynn H. Lockwood.

He was a mechanical engineering graduate of the California Institute of Technology. After graduation he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. While on assignment to the Ordnance Dept. in Washington, DC, he met a fellow Navy officer — Elizabeth Babb — who four years later would become his wife. After discharge he took a position with the Continental Can Company. His 37-year career with them took him from the West Coast to the East Coast and to Brussels, Belgium, and to positions ranging from Industrial Engineer to Plant Manager to Vice President ñ Manufacturing.

He and his wife retired to Hendersonville in 1984 and lived in Crooked Creek for 20 years before moving to Carolina Village.

While an undergraduate at Caltech he learned that tuition covered only one-third of the cost of his education. This knowledge — in addition to his appreciation of the value of education ñ provided a lifelong stimulus to help those needing assistance in meeting their education goals. When a plant manager in Oakland, California, he worked closely with the union to enlarge and strengthen the machinist apprentice program. He was an active supporter of the Caltech Alumni Fund scholarship program. He and Betsy endowed a healthcare scholarship at the Blue Ridge Community College in 1998 and recently have been enthusiastic supporters of the Carolina Village scholarship program for employees.

He was a ìred coatî at Pardee Hospital for five years, a former member of the Crooked Creek Property Owners Association board, a former member of the Hendersonville University Club, and a member of the Hendersonville Country Club.

He was an avid follower of amateur and professional athletics, played tennis well into his 80s, and was a regular participant in table tennis at Carolina Village.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Elizabeth Richter Lockwood; a daughter, Juliet Lee Lockwood of Hendersonville; a son, James Ellison Lockwood of Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In keeping with his wishes, private family services will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in his memory to Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation (BRCCEF), 180 W. Campus Dr., Flat Rock, NC 28731 or to the Women Helping Women Fund at Pardee Hospital Foundation, 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 29891.