Anne D. Locke

My sympathies for the loss of your Mother. I knew Anne for the better part of my life. She was a very close friend to my Aunt Laverne Ruehl Knasel. I am sure that they were in each other’s weddings. Anne was the loveliest woman I ever knew, both beautiful in her presence and her demeanor. Have seen her many times at functions and just around about town, always delightful to speak with.I am probably the last of the Ruehl family who would remember her. May she rest in peace. It was my good fortune to have known her.

Sincerely,
Angela Flynn Vasseur k

Anne Dodd Locke

Margaret Anne Dodd, her given name at birth, quickly gave way to simply Anne. Anne was an elegant, classy, and kind woman who was lovingly devoted to her husband and family. She was determined, self-assured, practical, resourceful, courageous, and led by example. Anne was full of grace and truly selfless, placing others’ needs in front of her own. Her strong faith guided her. She exuded elegance and grace. She was intelligent and proper, and carried herself with dignity and conviction. Anne rose to meet challenges. Her sweet, loving presence instantly made those around her feel comfortable.

Anne’s journey in this life began on September 3, 1929, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Covington, Kentucky. She was the middle child born to Edward and Mary Lee Dodd, with an older brother Ed, and later, a younger sister Marian. A child of the Great Depression, Anne was born less than two months before the Great Wall Street Crash of October 1929.

Anne attended Blessed Sacrament School through the 8th grade. She was a good student who enjoyed school and made friends easily. At age 13, her father sadly passed away, which had a profound impact on her life and the lives of her family members. As soon as they were old enough to work, Anne and her brother Ed pitched in, working to help their mom support the family. From an early age and for the rest of their lives, Anne and Ed enjoyed a very close relationship.

Anne attended Saint Henry High School and was a cheerleader, graduating in 1947. Her superlative academic performance earned her a scholarship to Villa Madonna College, but after graduation, she chose instead to take a position at Procter & Gamble in order to help provide for her family.

Through mutual friends during high school, Anne met the man who was to become the love of her life, Eugene Locke. She asked Gene to a Sadie Hawkins’ dance for their first date, and the rest is history! Anne remembered that early in their courtship, they played croquet in Gene’s parent’s backyard in Erlanger. The two were married at Blessed Sacrament Church on February 3, 1951, with all their family and friends gathered in celebration.

Ed remembers he and his wife Ann spending some warm evenings at Coney Island’s Moonlight Gardens with Anne and Gene after taking a ride on the Island Queen from Cincinnati.

Not long after they were married, Gene was drafted into the Army and proudly served for four years in the Army Corps of Engineers. He was among the fortunate half of the alphabet who were destined for Germany for the occupation, rather than going to Korea for combat. The young couple left family and friends and headed off to Fort Leonard Wood Missouri for Gene’s training. After Gene shipped out for his post, Anne soon followed him to Germany. They experienced a whole new world, culture, and language in post-war Germany. During Gene’s leave from duty, the couple had the opportunity to visit destinations all over Europe. Some of their favorite destinations for future trips were visited during Gene’s tour of service in Germany. Anne became a lifelong friend of Marianne Meier, whose mother rented a room in her Landstuhl home to Anne while she and Gene lived in Germany. The two friends wrote, called, and visited each other’s homes for the rest of their lives. Anne was proud of her volunteer service with the Grey Ladies, a group of Red Cross volunteers who worked in hospitals, healthcare facilities, and private homes.

Anne had a keen sense of fashion and was always dressed to the nines in clothes that she had either made or sought out. She was an accomplished seamstress capable of making most anything to which she put her mind, and always achieving superlative results. She even pursued upholstery, when her furniture needed refreshing. When her mom was older, Anne helped her with her quilting and embroidery.

Not long after Gene and Anne’s arrival home from Europe, they bought a boat and enjoyed boating on the Ohio River, at Williamstown Lake, and especially Lake Cumberland. While Anne was prim and proper, she could also bait her own line, unhook her catch, and clean and cook fish. Together from their boat they swam, fished, skied, and camped, beginning a Locke family tradition that continues to this day, three generations on. Anne was an accomplished water skier and worked to emulate the moves of the skiers she saw in Florida at the Cypress Gardens waterski shows.

Anne and Gene welcomed their first son, David, in 1959. Four years later, their second son, Glen, arrived, completing their family. Anne loved becoming a mother and dedicated herself to nurturing, loving, and supporting her two boys. She became a Den Mother while the two were in Cub Scouts and she instilled important life beliefs and principles, and philosophies, always leading with love.

Anne always led by example and mentored the boys with suggestions of what she would do in a given situation rather than demand certain behaviors without explanation. Proper manners and restrained behavior were expected. Social acumen was taught through words and examples.

Like her mother, Anne was an excellent cook and baker. There were good home-cooked meals every evening, and Anne enjoyed hosting family gatherings. She was known for her yeast rolls, coffee cake, and a delicious frozen fruit salad that she made especially for her brother. Later, she perfected a three-layer carrot cake with cream cheese frosting that became the favorite at birthday celebrations.

Although slim and fit, one of Anne’s favorite indulgences was homemade ice cream made with fresh ripe peaches bought from the orchard stands on Rt. 8.

While the boys worked on cars or house projects, she was the parts and supplies runner and was well known to the KY Motors’ counter men and hardware store staff. Anne had fine attention to detail and anything she did around the home reflected that sense of perfection from painting to maintaining her yard and extensive gardens.

Holiday celebrations at “B Dodd’s” home were full of fun spent with mother, her siblings, and their families. Her nieces were like her daughters and the cousins were like sisters and brothers.

In mid-life, Anne added snow skiing to her skiing repertoire. During the early 70s, Anne and family began a Locke family tradition of annual snow ski trips at Christmastime to Colorado, Utah, and Montana with their friends the Stoffers.

Anne was a lifelong learner and achieved her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology after the boys graduated high school, fulfilling her dream of earning the college degree that was put on hold after the death of her father.

When David and Glen moved out and began families of their own, Anne and Gene chose to continue traveling to visit and experience new destinations and soon, the grandchildren that came along. Anne considered herself blessed to watch her family grow to include her grandchildren, Katie, Nick, and Jacob, and cherished every opportunity to be with them.

Sadly, in 2008, Gene passed away. With his passing, Anne not only lost her best friend and partner, but a piece of herself. In the years that followed, she relied on her unwavering Catholic faith and the comfort and love of family to lift her up.

As Anne grew older, one of her favorite things to do was reminisce with her family. She and Ed were known to attempt to document the subjects and location of every old family picture, relishing and reinforcing their memories and experiences as keepers of the family’s heritage.

The tradition of Dodd family get-togethers lives on to this day with ten or more such occasions per year to celebrate life, family, and faith.

Anne passed away into the hands of God on Friday, March 21, 2025, with her sons by her side, to be greeted by those who have gone before her. She will be dearly missed so very much, but her light will shine on in all the lives of her family and all those whose lives she touched.

I know it’s a hard thing to go through. May you find peace and cherished memories.
Shannon

Aunt Anne or as the sisters lovingly called her, AA. When I was much younger, I remember AA as always being so put together. Her hair was always so beautifully styled and I loved the way she dressed. I always admired how she looked in her white blouse and pants. She was so slim and beautiful. I wanted to look just like her. She carried herself with such grace and confidence.

AA was a soft spoken, gentle giant. She became a widow way before she was ready but she battled the loss of her beloved husband, Gene, every single day. She told me once that it took her 5 years to get over the loss of Gene, but she never really did. She simply accepted the reality that he was gone and she still had many good years left to live, love and enjoy her family.

When our mom died, AA came around more and more and we were able to get to know her in a different light. She was there for our dad many times over but she was there for us as well, so fun to talk about clothes, hair color, food and most interestingly the past. She loved to sit in her back yard and talk about the past with you.

We spent so many times with AA at our dinner table and many times before she was unable to drive, she would come to St. Henry for the masses said in honor of our mom. She shared in the crazy breakfast prep afterwards of 5 or 6 cooks in a kitchen made for one or maybe 2 with another 12 or so family members hanging out enjoying each other. Best times ever.

AA even ventured out to one of our Sunday rituals when Sharon is in town. After the breakfast is over, mess cleaned up and Sharon had the roast beef in the oven, we’d venture out to the Gap outlet. AA took the leap and dug in for the trip. I don’t believe she bought a thing that day; but every time we would go, she would insist on seeing all of our bargains.

We loved sharing all our girlie habits with her. AA became a huge part of our family. I’m not sure if we adopted her as our “honorary mom” or she adopted us as her “renegade girls”, but we loved her and wanted to include her in everything we did together.

In short, my precious AA, you were such an important part of our healing after we lost our mom, not only for us but for dad. I loved how you would sit with dad and talk and look at old photos that dad was relentless at naming every single person in a photo from 70 years plus years ago but there the two of you sat sharing moments from the past. I loved watching how each of them found peace sharing time with each other.

Of course, although dinner would be right on time, we would always serve AA and dad their salads and rolls prior to dinner being put out as Daisy was always intent on feeding AA lots of chips and dip, as AA loved them so much, but then she couldn’t eat her dinner. But!!! AA always had room for dessert and sometimes 2. Now not too much was never too much and I’m just like her, and I’m really glad that I can always have a part of AA with me.

I am remembering the last time I drove you back to St. Charles from dads. The last dinner before Sharon went back to Charlotte. I never was sure if you were really ready to leave or afraid if you didn’t leave with me, you’d be there until who knows when, when Carol, the next bus, would be leaving. I’m sure glad you opted for me. I also know you were anxious to get home as Glen called you every night.
We’d get out of the car and you’d take off like you were running a race. I’d have to run to catch up. Then you’d always say, “you don’t have to walk me back”. Ah well that wasn’t happening. We walked back together so many times and every time you were so gracious just like you always were. I hugged you; I kissed you and prayed you’d be happy and safe.

Now I see my prayers are answered, you are happy and safe wrapped in our God’s strong, comforting arms.

I just wish I had one more chance to hug you and kiss you good night, and tell you I love you.

Sheila
22 March 2025

Dave, Marianne and Jacob –
Prayers and sympathy for all of you on the passing of your mom, mom-in-law and grandmother. May memories of good times bring you comfort at this sorrow-filled time.
Condolences,
Germaine & Joe