Former Travelers Rest City councilman Lewis Lockaby dies at 89

Lewis Tyler Lockaby, 89, passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2015, at The Woodlands at Furman surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Greenville County, he was the son of the late John W. and Zadie Edwards Lockaby. Lewis was a 1943 graduate of Travelers Rest High School. Upon graduation, Lewis enlisted in the US Navy where he served in WWII. He obtained the rank of Pharmacist Mate 3rd Class and was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with a star for the invasion of Okinawa and WWII Victory Medal and China Service – American Campaign Medal. After his Navy service, Lewis continued his education at Newberry College where he lettered 4 years on the varsity basketball team and obtained his BA Degree in History and Political Science in 1950. After teaching a few years, he continued his education at Western Carolina University where he obtained his MA in Education in 1966.

A true educator, Lewis taught at Mountain View High School, Blue Ridge High School, Woodland Elementary (where he was principal, Bryson Middle School (where he was Teacher of the Year), and Northwest Middle School (where he finished his teaching career).

Outside of teaching, Lewis served on the Travelers Rest City Council, the board of directors at Roper Mountain Science Center, as an original member of board of directors for North Greenville YMCA, and on the board of directors for the North Greenville Food Crisis Center. He was voted Citizen of the Year in Travelers Rest and served as Boy Scout Master at T. R. U. M.C. He was recently inducted into the Textile Baseball Hall of Fame. He was a member of Travelers Rest United Methodist Church where he served on numerous boards and committees.

Surviving is his wife of 64 years, Frances Holtzclaw Lockaby; daughters: Ruth (Robert) Anderson, Carrie (Ned) Burgess and Fara (Aubrey) Stewart; 7 grandchildren: Tyler and Eric Anderson, Josh and Jonathan Burgess, Ashley Hebrank, Katie and Caroline Stewart; 7 great-grandchildren and a sister, Margaret Hudson

Along with his parents, Lewis was predeceased by 3 sisters: Lois Tollison, Eloise Foster and Ruth Lockaby and 2 brothers: Boyd and Roy Lockaby.

A visitation will be held Monday afternoon from 1 until 2:00 p.m. at Travelers Rest United Methodist Church. Funeral service will follow the visitation in the church sanctuary at 2:00 p.m.

Burial will follow the service in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Travelers Rest United Methodist Church, 19 South Main St., Travelers Rest, SC 29690.

Online condolences may be expressed here. 

The Howze Mortuary, Travelers Rest is in charge of the arrangements. (864) 834-8051.