Paxton D. Lockhart

Paxton D. Lockhart

June 15, 1934 - April 05, 2022
Las Flores California

Paxton D. Lockhart

June 15, 1934 - April 05, 2022
Las Flores California

Obituary

Paxton D Lockhart, 87, of Las Flores CA, passed away on April 5, 2022 in Anaheim CA. Paxton will be remembered as a United States Naval Veteran, a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many. His “well, hello” greeting to all will be dearly missed.

Paxton was born on June 15, 1934 to Phyllis Paxton and James Lee Lockhart in Provo, Utah. In 1941 his family moved to Whittier CA where the home prices were so high they could only afford to rent what he called a “shack”. Paxton and his brother Vern had their bedroom out back on the screened in porch. Paxton started sleepwalking when the temperatures became too cold to sleep and would end up asleep in various rooms in the house. He loved the neighborhood and the friends he made.

As Paxton grew he had a passion for playing and watching sports. Basketball, fastpitch softball, football, golf and even riding his bike.

When he started high school Paxton felt intimidated by his small stature of 5’2″ and 97 lbs and was quite shy. But his athleticism and academia quickly changed how he viewed himself in this world. Basketball was always his first love. With only 17 seconds left in the Whittier High School basketball game, Paxton shot the winning basket to win the League Championship.

As a teenager Paxton loved scouting. In 1950 at the age of 16 he attended the Valley Forge, PA Jamboree by train with other troops from Southern California. Later in life he would serve as an adult Scoutmaster and enjoyed mentoring many young men over the years.

Paxton attended college at BYU and then the University of Utah where he studied Electrical Engineering. In 1956 Paxton married Connie Adele Tanner and soon after left to serve his country in the United States Navy. Paxton was a true patriot. He served 3 years on the Naval Destroyer USS Ammen. Over the next 5 years they had three children, Ralph, Kelli and Kathy and moved to Huntington Beach CA.

After the Navy, Paxton began his long time career with essentially one company as an Engineer with Autonetics which was acquired by McDonnell Douglas and then Boeing. During his career he moved for 2 years to Merritt Island Florida by the Kennedy Space Center working on the Apollo missions. He later returned to CA. Other project contributions were noted with the Saturn Rockets, the Apollo and Delta Rockets and Satellites.

Paxton married Judy Curtis in 1979 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Los Angeles Temple and for the next many years helped her raise her two young children April and Craig. Together they served two Missions for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. First serving in the Singapore Mission which included Malaysia, and the Island of Borneo, and a few years later served a second mission at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. When people in their ward would call to ask Family History questions, Paxton and Judy wouldn’t just give an answer over the phone, but would say “we’ll be right over” and within minutes be helping someone in person. He and Judy loved genealogy.

Paxton treasured his service in the LDS Newport Beach Temple and was one of the very first ordinance workers when the temple opened in 2005. He loved the temple and had a strong testimony and relationship with his Savior. Together they loved working in the temple.

Paxton was preceded in death by both his parents and his sister Ludean Lockhart Merrill, and his wife Judy Lockhart. He is survived by his brother Vernon Lee Lockhart, son, Ralph Lee Lockhart (Deena), daughters Kelli Lockhart, and Kathy VanDusen (Kris) and step children April Reddout(Melissa) and Craig Curtis. He was proud of his 13 grand children and their spouses and his many nieces and nephews.

Grandpa Paxton spent special time with his 24 Great Grandchildren showing them his self-designed LGB train track system for his working trains located in his own backyard. He shared his trains with many young children and their families both in the community and in his church. Few people could make others feel instantly loved as Paxton did. He was a peacemaker- kind and loving until the end. We imagine he is with his beloved wife, parents and sister in heaven, ready to greet us some day and saying, “well, hello”!!!

The family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations be sent to the Genealogical Family History Center by going to https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/familysearch

Funeral services will be held on Friday April 15th @11 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – 26176 Antonio Parkway Rancho Santa Margarita CA 92688.

 

For those who cannot attend you are invited to the live Zoom feed at:
https://zoom.us/j/91601098045?pwd=M3h6WVdLZlkvMXp3cU0vb3NPMTlpdz09

Meeting ID: 916 0109 8045
Passcode: Lockhart

One tap mobile
+16699006833,,91601098045#,,,,*44273253# US (San Jose)

 

Funeral Service

  • Date & Time: April 15, 2022 (11:00 AM)
  • Venue: Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints - RSM - Antonio Parkway
  • Location: 26176 Antonio Parkway Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 - (Get Directions)

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