Janis Claire Locke

Janis Locke, 69, is in heaven with the Lord Almighty after battling cancer for many months. She was married to husband Bob for 42 years, and they enjoyed an amazing life together sharing joy, happiness and laughter. Janis was a beautiful, kind and loving wife and was a blessing to everyone that knew her.

Passionate, confident and creative, Janis put her whole heart and fun-loving energy into all aspects of her very full and purposeful life. Born in Newark, New Jersey on May 12, 1953, Janis spent her early life in Rockaway, New Jersey, graduating from Morris Hills High School in 1971 and completing business courses at County College of Morris. As a lifelong faithful servant of God, Janis was an active member of the Rockaway United Methodist Church where she participated in various community support activities.

Janis worked at the Dover Sport Center, was a corporate buyer for Lear-Sigler, and served as a purchasing agent and contract administrator for Ohaus Corporation before moving to Williamsburg, Virginia in 2000. There she began working in the healthcare field for Sentara Hospital at the concierge desk and as an Administrative Assistant in the ICU, where she received the Always Committed to Excellence (ACE) award in 2010. Janis continued her care for others through her love of animals and deep faith.

Having no children of their own, Janis and Bob had two wonderful but very different golden retrievers Cooper and Nitro. Janis trained her faithful companions to share their love with others by becoming Certified Therapy Dogs. Through this service, Janis was in charge of the therapy dog program at Sentara Hospital and was an active member of the K9 Connection therapy dog group in Williamsburg. Janis received the Women With A Cause award in 2009 for her outstanding therapy dog community service with her loyal dog Cooper. Janis, Bob, Cooper and Nitro formed lasting friendships with many of the K9 Connection members. She was also a Healing Touch for Animals Professional and started Pawsitive Energy LLC, which promoted healing techniques for all animals.

Janis was a strong Christian believer who enjoyed her daily Devotional and other morning readings, spent time with her prayer concerns, and applied His word in her actions. She was a loving, caring, and compassionate woman who shared Christ’s love with people going through difficult life experiences in her dedicated role as Stephen Minister, Stephen Instructor and Stephen Leader for local churches.

Janis always had an artistic and creative flair and enjoyed painting and card making. She painted murals at VCA Anderson’s Corner Animal Hospital and at Wellspring United Methodist Church where she was also a member. And from her “woman cave” she would send handmade cards to her many friends and acquaintances that needed a kind word of love and encouragement to lift their spirits.

She shared her love of the outdoors and the beach with her family, friends and dogs. Her favorite vacation spot has always been the Outer Banks, North Carolina – relaxing along the shores of Salvo, Avon, and Hatteras by watching the sun rise, drinking coffee on the deck, and gazing at the ocean. Walking on the beach and watching her dogs play and roll in the sand was especially fun and delightful.

Janis is preceded in death by her loving parents Bernice and Joe Carter and her nephew James Costello. She is survived, dearly missed, and so very loved by her husband, Robert K. Locke, sister JoAnne Ruban and husband Jim, niece Jennifer David and husband Ron, great niece Samantha Hiller, husband Chad and son Maverick, and great niece Chelsea LaTourette, husband Ryan and son Carter.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Wellspring United Methodist Church in Williamsburg.