Betty S. Locke

Betty S. Locke transitioned to eternal life on Friday, January 20, 2023. Betty was born on January 16, 1931 in Houston, Texas, daughter of Marie Leathern Wasatka and Fred Louis Wasatka. She graduated from John Reagan High School in Houston, Texas in 1948. She earned a Bachelor of Elementary Education degree from Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos, Texas in 1952. That same year she married Jack Sailors Jr., and they subsequently became the proud parents of two daughters. In 1969, Betty entered a second marriage to Dr. William E. Locke, who became father to her two daughters when Jack Sailors died in 1974. Betty was a talented and popular elementary school teacher in both Garwood and Eagle Lake, Texas schools. She later taught Special Education at Northwood Elementary School in San Antonio. 

Betty and Bill had a happy marriage spanning over 5 decades. A marriage filled with travel, friends, and entertaining. They lived in San Antonio, Texas for 30 years, then “retired” to the Rio Grande Valley. Their travels took them to many parts of the world, but her favorite was the 3 trips she took to the African continent. They were also blessed to have had many trips to the Virgin Islands as well. She became an avid motor homer, and from 1987 to 2015 traveled throughout the beautiful United States. From 2009-2015 they lived in their motorhome and volunteered in county parks in California, Arizona, and Colorado. From 2015-2019 they were residents of Salinas, California in Monterey County. From 2019-2023 they returned to the Rio Grande Valley, and enjoyed their final years together at John Knox Village in Weslaco. 

Betty is survived by her daughters, Terri Sailors (Phil Gurvitz) and Mary Frances “Sissy” Sailors (Red Conger); Step-sons: David Locke (Valerie) and Stephen Locke (Christine Brown), and Step-daughter Lisa Locke (Doug McCutcheon); Grandchildren: Tyler Locke, Mallory Sampson, Marissa Locke, Ryan Locke, Austin Locke, Amanda Locke, Matthew Chartier (Andrea Chartier), Victoria Chartier; Great Grandchildren: David Elliot Chartier, Elliana Rose Chartier, and Micah Alexander Chartier. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, William E. Locke M.D., Daughter-in-Law Sonia Locke, and Son-in-Law David Chartier. 

Final arrangements are by the McCaleb Funeral Home, Weslaco, Texas. Service, in San Antonio to be announced later. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation, P.O. Box 369, Kendalia, Texas, 78027. 

https://wildlife-rescue.org/support/donate/