Obituary of Kenneth T. Lockhart, POW

Lockhart, Kenneth Thomas, age 93, died Saturday, October 22, 2016 at the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home, Paramus, NJ. Born in Duluth, MN, Ken was a long time resident of Wyckoff, NJ, and a parishioner of St. Elizabeth RC Church. Prior to his retirement, he was a District Sales Manager for Campbell Soup Company where he worked for 38 years. Ken was a graduate of The University of Minnesota/Duluth, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1949. (Go Bulldogs!) Ken was a proud WWII POW Purple Heart recipient. A member of the U.S. Army Air Corp 578th Squadron/ 392nd Bomb Group during World War II. During his military service, he fought overseas as a tail gunner on a B24 Liberator. Ken's aircraft, Pleasure Bent, was shot down over Giessen, Germany. One of only a few survivors in his crew, he was captured and held prisoner until the end of the war. As a child growing up in Duluth, MN, Ken loved to play Ice Hockey. His Central Field Midget team won a City Championship in 1938. A proud Grandpa, he enjoyed following his Grandson's hockey endeavors. Ken is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Barbara Jones Lockhart, his adoring daughter, Susan Elizabeth Surat and her husband, Steve who currently reside in Wyckoff. He is also survived by his grandson, Benjamin Thomas Surat, who was the delight of his grandfather’s life. The family will receive friends on, Friday, November 4, 2016, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 10am at St. Elizabeth RC Church, 700 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ. Ken was a member of the American Ex-Prisoners of War Chapter One. (As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations in Ken’s name may be made to American Ex-Prisoners of War, 3201 East Pioneer Parkway, #40, Arlington, TX 76010 (817-649-2979.