Ray Lockbaum

Ray Lockbaum of Chambersburg became a Gift of Life Member, Sunday, February 2nd, 2025, at the age of 75, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

While attending both of his daughters’ Birthday party, the prior weekend and holding his Great Grandchild for the first time, he complained of a migraine – later diagnosed as a blood clot, lodged in the left frontal lobe, resulting in Massive Stroke.

He was airlifted from Meritus Medical Center, Hagerstown, MD to UPMC in Harrisburg for Emergency Thrombectomy. Surgeons worked tirelessly through the evening; however, an intracranial hemorrhage halted the surgery. He succumbed to Pneumonia, eight days later.

Ray was supported every day of his hospital stay, by the most incredible and caring ICU Staff on the Planet and the Loves Of His Life: Bride of 56 Years, Paulette (Simpson) Lockbaum, Four children: Renee Lockbaum-Deibert, Teresa Kegg, Chris Lockbaum & Wes Lockbaum, Five Granddaughters: Zoe Deibert, Allison Kegg & Husband Spencer Numata, Jessica Kegg Perez, Marissa Kegg & Olivia Lockbaum, Great-Granddaughter, Ava Teresa Perez and Grandson in-law to be: Patrick Ryan.

We all swore, He must have had “Nine Lives” due to his many “near misses”:

While an Eagle Scout on an excursion at Philmont Scout Ranch in 1965, Ray and three fellow scouts encountered a Grizzly, just outside Base Camp. They formed a line behind Ray, walked backward all the way down the trail, stumbled upon a grove of berry bushes, tore away as many branches as possible and tossed them in the Beast’s direction. They double-timed it back to base camp.

While working at his Uncle John Shatzer’s farm, he encountered a Bull with a bad reputation, that approached Ray, while his focus was repairing a fence. It cornered him, completely pinning his 5’11 3/4” 160 lb. frame against the fencepost. Uncle’ John’s voice rang out: “Nail him in the ribs, Ray – Punch with everything You’ve got”. That mean old bull finally shifted his gait, allowing for Ray’s getaway.

In the Fall of his Senior Year at Chambersburg Area High School, while driving home from work in his brand new 1966 GTO 400 4-Speed Tri-Power, for which he had saved, since he was 14, Ray was broadsided by the Town Drunk, entering Rt 11 South, in the pouring rain, without any headlights. He hit Ray’s car with such force, pushing it all the way across Rt 11 and wrapping it around a telephone pole. In the may lay, Ray dove across the seat and held onto the passenger armrest, until the sound of twisting of metal stopped. Realizing as he tried to sit upright- the steering column had been pushed all the way into the back of the Driver’s seat, his only option was to kick the broken windshield away from the frame to make his escape. He walked home to seek refuge at that to pretty yellow house with big white columns beside the Second Street Playground.

Police appeared at the door a few hours later, declaring him, “deceased and still working to recover the body”. His Mother, Della Grace Shatzer Lockbaum opened the door wider and stepped aside, to reveal her only Son standing behind her: a bit shaken and pale, covered in a towel; but, definitely upright and mobile. She declared – “I know this is an old house; but I don’t believe, I’m seeing Ghosts”.

There weren’t any other ‘66s with similar options to be found in the area.

He opted to replace it with the very first ‘67 GTO Hardtop in town: Tyrol Blue w/a 400-cid V-8: four-barrel carburetor, 4 speed with High Output (HO), that would not be completed w/o a Hurst cue ball shifter and flat bottom steering wheel customization.

Ray kept that car for life, and so began a passion for Pontiac, that he converted into a supplemental line of business: from total engine rebuilds to full body restoration. An Expert Mig Welder, Ray could take what was still functional of two wrecked cars and combine into 1, with welds so clean and smooth, the Paint Shop Techs could hardly tell.

Ray survived misdiagnosed Appendicitis, early 1968 – dismissed as Stomach Flu by a Ft Dix Army Basic Training M.D. – Saved by his Bride-to-Be, Paulette, while attending Nursing School. She pleaded with him to request a weekend pass to visit her. One look at her Fiancé and she rushed him to the ER for an Emergency Appendectomy.

In 1969, during the Summer of Unrest in the greater Harrisburg, PA area, amid gunfire from an angry mob rioting and wielding Molotov cocktails, Ray, who was a Specialist Five along with his Army National Guard unit, Troop B, First Squadron, 104th Armored Cavalry, responded to an order by the Governor to secure downtown business areas and enact a city-wide Curfew. Ray often spoke of the kindness of the owners of local shops and restaurants in a section known as “Little Italy”. Several women delivered, at daybreak, on the last day: enormous platters of pasta, homemade bread and the strongest coffee, they’d ever had.

Following the Tropical Storm Agnes, June of 1972, Ray received a Commendation from Major General Harry J Mier, Jr for evacuating flood victims in Williamsburg of Blair County & Scotland Area of Franklin County, frequently driving a 2 ½ Ton truck into deep, turbulent and treacherous waters without regard for his personal safety to rescue occupants from their flooded homes and returning, again and again to shut off gas and fuel tanks, preventing the hazard of fire and explosions, resulting in saving lives and property.

Ray wrapped his 7 years of service in the PA Army National Guard in 1975, as he and Paulette were expecting their 3rd child and his Parents made their case for his full-time return to help manage the Family business.

Ray aspired to become a well-known and highly respected engineer, just like his Father, Creston Elwood Lockbaum. You could relay a problem, offer Your vision. He would draft a solution, create a pattern, form it and impress his customers, who would declare – “that’s exactly or better than, what I wanted – how did You know?”

That Metal Shop was the 1st business on Industrial Drive and was responsible for the Christmas Tree Frame, that once held several dozen trees on the Square in Chambersburg over the fountain, every year, the construction of the Gettysburg National Tower, a 307-foot (94 m) hyperboloid observation tower that overlooked the Gettysburg National Military Park and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from 1974 to 2000, much of the iron work or reconstructed w/steel to resemble iron work, gates and fencing all over Central & South-Central PA, found at Churches, Municipal Buildings, the Chambersburg Old Jail and Parks. They helped many local Farms and Small Businesses, Fire & Rescue save big by repairing or improving heavy equipment, re-constructing entire conveyor, duct and gutter systems, and emergency vehicles rather than buying new.

Although, he pleaded w/his Parents, to send him to college as they had for his siblings and even tried his hand at CDL Professional Truck Driving and as a Professional Driver for a Cobra Racing Team, His Parents convinced him, he had learned an invaluable trade and had a Legacy Plan for him to Partner with them. He officially inherited the Shop from his Parents in 1998, when they retired.

Ray rescued his Parents from an armed intruder in 1987, when they called for his help, due to no response from local law enforcement. He made is way from Lakeshore Drive to South Second Street in record time, securing the main level and holding the intruder at gunpoint until the police arrived.

In December of 1990, He saved his daughter from further harm; after, her Boyfriend had sent her to the hospital and later broke into her apartment, threatening to kill her and her Dog. Ray forced him out, in the middle of a snowstorm, while holding a Smith & Wesson Model 350.

Ray was a master Gunsmith, specializing in antique military weaponry. He loved the challenge of breaking down an otherwise unsalvageable, rusty old relic and bringing it back to life with reliable firing power.

Ray delighted in countless adventures with his aunts, Uncles and many cousins in the area. Several, who were just like Brothers and Sisters to him: If Your name is Burkholder, Condon, Cosey, Fahnestock, Herrmann, Lehman, or Shatzer with roots in PA, we’re probably related.

Ray worked harder and longer than most people care to – in this life. He declared, he never wanted to grow old. He marched to his own rhythm and left this World, on his own terms. It is fitting, that Ray became an Organ Donor for a victim of a fiery car accident.

Ray would not want anyone to shed tears for him. Funerals terrified him; having been voluntold from the far too tender age of 13 to be a pallbearer for his best friend who had succumbed to Leukemia and later for many close Friends, a few of his Co-Workers and Employees. He was a spiritual soul and will live on in our memories, as the Guy with the infectious laugh – always ready with a good story.

Condolences can offered to the Family at: P.O. Box 25, Chambersburg, PA 17201