Major Douglas Alfred Lockridge
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Major (Retired) Douglas Alfred Lockridge, CD2, on Jan. 2, 2021, at Ottawa General Hospital. He was 78.
The brother of Frances (deceased), Ruth (deceased) and Thomas (deceased), Douglas was the loving husband of Gloria and father of Andrew and Corey (deceased) and grandfather of Alexander, Sofia, Gabriela and Claudia. Douglas passed away with his beloved wife, Gloria (MacDonald) at his side early that morning after a brief battle with leukemia.
Born April 22, 1942 to Alfred and Myra (McDonald) in Wingham, he is survived by his brother-in-law Gerald and wife Ruth (Stokes), Wingham; sister-in-law Mary (Kerwin), New Hampshire; son Andrew and wife Jennifer (Dunn), Kingston and numerous nieces and nephews residing in Canada and across the United States of America.
Douglas was dedicated to the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, enrolling into the Canadian Armed Forces as a Gunner with 21st Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (21 Fd RCA), Guelph, in 1958. A graduate of the Apprenticeship program in 1964, Douglas was posted to Shilo, Manitoba, and completed the Locating Troop Commander’s course. Subsequent postings followed: Recruiting officer in Toronto, for three years; Instructor-in-Gunnery course in Shilo, Manitoba; first regimental tour with third Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (3 RCHA); The Combat Arms School in Gagetown, New Brunswick, as an instructor and as Battery Commander for W Battery; as a UN Observer in Damascus, Syria; a tour at Force Mobile Command on the Artillery Staff; graduating the Canadian Forces Command and Staff Course in 1981; Canadian Forces Liaison Officer (CFLO) to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma; the Field Artillery School as Senior Instructor of Gunnery; returning to 3 RCHA in 1987 as the Deputy Commanding Officer.
The highlight of his career was commanding 3 RCHA for six months at the rank of Major before being posted once again as CFLO to Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. Finally retiring in Ottawa, in 1995 to enjoy life with Gloria, Douglas thoroughly enjoyed serving the Guns, especially the time that he spent with all Gunners.
Douglas will be cremated at Barker’s Funeral Home, Carleton Place, and interred at United Cemeteries near his son, Corey, in the late spring. Details of Douglas’ celebration of life will be forthcoming. Condolences can be passed to Gloria Lockridge at the Portobello Retirement Residence, Unit 148, 691 Valin Street, Orleans, ON, K4A 0G3 or alternatively through his son, Andrew at ajlockridge@bell.net or Andrew.Lockridge@forces.gc.ca.