Farewell to a Real Friend of the AT

The memorial service for John "Duffbuster" Locke, attended by Tony Roberts, probably sent as clear a message about John's love for the AT, hiking and his PATH friends and family as any written remembrance could ever do.

John, a member of PATH for many years, died of lung cancer Aug. 19, 2000 at his home in North Wilkesboro, N.C. He was 66. He is survived by his wife Vanya Brame and a son John R. Locke III.

Tony, representing PATH, spoke briefly with Vanya, expressing his sympathy for the family. At the service, Tony noted that "John's backpack, hiking poles and other gear decorated the altar as Vanya and John's son, JR, told stories about John's life and his love of the trail. It was obvious that John will miss the trail and his trail friends and vice versa."

John was part of Cordon Burgess an elite corps of hardcore PATH members called the Duffbusters, hence the nickname. He, Steve Williams, Mark Clayton, Bill Medlin and Bill Boudman formed this rowdy group in 1993 during a Konnarock project in which they learned how to remove the layer of duff (decaying leaves, small roots and rocks) to get to the hard layer of earth needed when making a trail. They have all passed along that information since then to new generations of PATH.

In a biographical nutshell, John was born in New York City, was a graduate of Trinity School of New York, Johns Hopkins and Duke University, was a former president of the Jaycees of Durham and a former member of the U.S. Army. He was the general manager of the Brushy Mountain Bee Farm.

Paul Clayton, PATH president, noted John was a "very active maintainer who hardly ever missed a worktrip" when Paul joined in 1993.

Paul added: "After completing his hike of the AT, John became active with some of the long-distance hiker organizations, and we saw less of him with PATH, but we always stayed in touch and knew that we were working towards the same goals."

John Hartpence, PATH secretary, had many wonderful memories of John. He wrote: "Who can forget John coming into camp about 1 a.m. and asking for the combination to the gate? It was John who saved Bill Boudman and me supper at 11 p.m. as we returned to camp from a PATH adventure. Who can forget John carrying in the liquid refreshments at Crawfish Valley during a Konnarock Weekend? We all have our memories of John. We will miss him greatly."

Bill Boudman, an original duffbuster with John, said, "John was always one to volunteer for the hardest assignments and stay at it until it was completed. He would drive that van any place a jeep could go. He believed in partying hard and working just as hard. He had a great disposition and he would share anything he had with others. He was loved by many."

Karl Kunkel, who joined PATH in 1995, rode to his first worktrip location from Stoney Fork to O'Lystery with John in a well-organized van, getting a good education in PATH lore and culture during the trip. The following fall, Karl had a memorable blaze-painting worktrip along Garden Mountain, overlooking Burke's Garden, with John and Betsy Novicki. They finished just as the paint froze. Sadly, both John and Betsy are no longer with us - but the memories materialize whenever he hikes that stretch and sees the blazes.

John Hartpence added, "I know he will continue his hike on the Heavenly Trails. God Bless YOU, John."