Obituary for James “Bud” Lockhart

Funeral service for James “Bud” Tomes Lockhart of Heavener is 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Freedom House Fellowship in Heavener with Brother Sam Dyer officiating.

Burial will follow in Heavener Memorial Park with military honors provided by the Poteau DAV Chapter #63. Arrangements are under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener.

James was born Sept. 27, 1941 in a house south of Hodgen, the son of Elmer and Elva Lockhart, and passed away Dec. 31, 2023 in Fort Smith, Arkansas at the age of 82.

He was named James Thomas Lockhart, but the midwife that came with the doctor the night he was born misspelled his middle name. She wrote Tomes instead of Thomas. Carl Lockhart was his older brother, Carl passed in March of 2020. Anna Kay was his younger sister, she lives in Columbus, Ohio. James T. (Bud) attended elementary school in Zoe, he graduated from Heavener High school in 1959.  He was drafted into the Vietnam War and spent time on a forward observation post, constructing various buildings. He returned home after serving in Vietnam. He married Ginger Harrison at the Zoe Baptist church. They lived for awhile in Oregon near her parents in Eugene. Bud was hired by the KCS and returned home to Heavener.

They were married 57 years Bud and Ginger had two children, Jami and James. Jami married Jim Winters and lives in Lovings. They have two children. Stormy lives in Poteau and Haylee married Octavio Sanchez and they have a son named Kash. Octavio just came off active duty. Haylee just finished LPN school. James married Carrie Kee from Stroud and they live west of Heavener. They have two children, Hope and Jakob. Hope is in medical school in Dallas and Jakob is a sophomore at Wister Public School.

Bud worked for the KCS for almost 40 years. He retired in 2003. Many KCS engineers say Bud was the best engineer they ever worked with. He trained several over the years. The conductors always liked working with Bud because Ginger packed sandwiches and cookies on every trip. The entire train crew knew those snacks were always in his grip. Most of the years, he worked for the KCS he drove a blue short wide Chevy pickup, however his kids drove better vehicles all through college. Bud drove old blue while the kids were in college. Bud’s main priority in life was for his children to graduate from college. Both of his children and all of his grandchildren that are of age have college degrees. Bud and Ginger helped them all, and was proud to do it. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Elva Lockhart; and his brother, Carl Lockhart.

Pallbearers are Mark Huie, Thad Lockhart, Tim Thomas, Stormy Winters, Jakob Lockhart and Ted Pride.  Honorary pallbearers are Joe Harbuck, Don Frost, Octavio Sanchez, Jim Winters, Kilbourn Garner and Patrick Cooper.

James will lie in state beginning at 9 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 6 until 8 p.m.

To sign James’ online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.