James "Jim" Robert Lockwood

Jim Lockwood – Beloved Son, Husband, Father, and Friend (July 27, 1946 – January 5, 2015)


At his core, Jim Lockwood was a great man with a very generous heart. In his way he would always think of others. He would often send dinner invitations to friends who may otherwise be alone or offer his help to relatives in tough situations, even if he just met them. He would even remember off-hand comments about needing a product only to have that product mysteriously show up under the Christmas tree. He loved his family more than anything, and positively impacted the lives of his family and friends more than he will ever know. When language became a barrier for communicating with much of the family from Mexico, he set his mind to learn Spanish so that he could better communicate his love to them and at the same time feel their love for him. He had an enthusiasm for creating shared experiences with loved ones. Perhaps the greatest gift to his wife and two sons was letting them know it was OK to live and dream after the loss of their first husband/dad. His entry into their lives re-energized them and helped them become the people they are.

As far as the biographical facts, Jim Lockwood was born and raised in Burbank, CA on July 27, 1946 to Glen and Mildred Lockwood. When looking back on his childhood, he liked to describe himself as a "Dennis the Menace-type". At a young age, Jim learned that he loved working with tools and his hands. He loved football and was a standout offensive lineman and defensive lineman at John Burroughs High School. He had dreams of playing at football at the University of Southern California (USC), where his cousins John Lockwood and later Scott Lockwood played. He didn't fulfill those athletic dreams, and instead studied Business at what is now known as CSUN (California State University at Northridge). He always seemed to have a knack for being a successful salesman, and he often took great pride in explaining the science and psychology of sales. He loved working in retail and enjoyed interacting with customers. He spent the majority of his career working in Sales in the Beverage Industry (including Miller, Sierra Distributing, and Anheuser-Busch). His other notable professional achievements included being an instrumental part of the foundation of Champs Sports Pub in Burbank.

For all his joy, his adult life also brought some bumps, including the passing of his parents. Despite these bumps, he managed to make the most important decision in his life. This was to enter the lives of a widow named Margarita Vargas and her two young twin sons, Carlos and Luis. Jim and Margarita were married on June 18, 1994. It would be an understatement to say that Jim cherished his family. His love for his beautiful wife was only rivaled by his love for his two sons. He always made sure to communicate his love and affection equally. He nurtured their love for sports by teaching them how to play baseball and football. In some ways, Jim found his salvation through his family while at the same time helping save them. He loved his new family from Mexico and felt peace in being able to understand that they loved him.

In addition to sports, his hobbies included coins, stamps, cars, and personal/family history. He also loved the outdoors and the quiet it provided him. Some of his best memories were of various family trips to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park.

At the time of his passing, I can honestly say that he was the happiest I have ever seen him. He seemed to be at peace spiritually. He continued to live life with the same attitude, to live life not in fear of death but in enthusiasm to live shared experiences with his loved ones. He passed into the next life early in the morning on Monday, January 5, 2015. The sudden unexpectedness makes his death tragic for his loved ones, but he is kept alive in his impact on his family and friends and those shared experiences and memories. He found his peace in spirit while here on earth and is now in peace in Heaven. At the same time, his comforting presence can still be felt and will continue to be felt.

Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California.