Richard Allen Loke of Santa Fe passed away at home after a brave and inspiring three-year battle with prostate cancer. He was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin in 1934, the first of two sons born to August F. Loke and Ruth Nordquist Loke. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1956 with a chemical engineering degree, and immediately drove to Texas to begin his 45-year career at Union Carbide, retiring in 2001. He married Esther Louise Anderson Loke 49 years and 11 months ago, and is survived by his wife, his daughters Lynnelle Loke Moore and Karen Loke, his five grandchildren Tommy Moore (16), Elijah Loke Gray (14), Dana Moore (13), Joey Moore (12) and Matthew Moore (7), his brother Elliott Loke of Milwaukee, and his mother-in-law Eunice Anderson.
Richard, Dick to his friends, got an early start with boy scouts establishing his skills as a craftsman. He was one of seven winners in a model car contest at age 14, receiving a tool chest as his prize. He and Esther later built their own house where he continued to invent, design or fix whatever he thought was necessary to make their lives easier and more economical. The rest of his time was spent playing golf or bridge with his friends, landscaping, visiting his grandchildren, fixing his daughters' homes, and petting his dog, Blue.
In college, Dick was a member of the Lutheran Student Association, American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Alpha Chi Sigma.
A service is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 1 p.m. at Hayes Funeral Home, 10412 Highway 6, Hitchcock, TX (409) 925-3501.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care Team, 1708 Amburn Rd., Suite C Texas City, TX 77591; Uvalde Hospice, 124 Royal, Uvalde, TX 78801 and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P. O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210.