SOUTH GARDINER – David Orman Locke passed away on March 4, 2024, at Maine General Medical Center, Augusta. He was born Oct. 4, 1934, to Lloyd G. and Doris (Stanley) Locke in Bridgton. He graduated from George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, and from the University of Maine at Orono with a degree in Wildlife Conservation in 1956. Shortly after graduation, he went to work for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game (now Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife) in the Moosehead Lake Region as Assistant Regional Biologist.

In 1961, he assumed the position of Assistant Superintendent of Hatcheries. While in this position in 1963, he became trained in fish pathology and fish health at the Leetown National Fish Hatchery and Research Station in Leetown, West Virginia and subsequently became a Certified Fish Health Inspector through the American Fisheries Society. His focus in this position was fish diseases and parasites as well as reduction in hatchery mortality. In 1976, he became Superintendent of Hatcheries where he continued and advanced his work and research in fish health by utilizing UV light in the filtration of hatchery intake water to prevent/reduce disease and by utilization of ground water source water (in addition to surface water sources) to optimize temperature for growth and survival. He also researched and perfected the use of hatchery feed and feed blends and even instituted the use of electric UV insect harvesters to supplement and improve fish nutrition. In 1993, he retired from this position with a total of 37 years of service.

On the very day that he graduated from the University of Maine, he married Elaine Alice Butler and they enjoyed over 60 years together until her passing on Nov. 7, 2016. Outside of work, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and restoring/building wooden canoes.

He is survived by two sons, William L. Locke IV and Daniel B. Locke; three grandsons, William L. Locke V, Collis C. Locke, and Ian H. Locke; a grand-daughter Corensa (Locke) Wallace; a great-grandson, William L. Locke VI; two great-grand-daughters, Malia Locke and Melody Wallace; daughters-in-law, Stacey Locke and Maveline Locke; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, William L. Locke III, his wife Elaine Alice (Butler) Locke; and a grand-daughter, Brooke Elaine Locke.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Gardiner, Maine.

At David’s request, there will be no service.

Arrangements and guidance are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com.

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