Some speak reverently of his compassion, and others fondly recall his sense of humor, but comments from friends and former associates leave no doubt that Dr. Robert Minturn Lockwood III had a dramatic and positive impact on many lives.

Lockwood, a longtime local radiologist and community servant, passed away May 19 at the age of 87.

A native of Philadelphia, Lockwood attended Harvard and later graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He came to Denton in 1956 and was co-founder of the Family Radiology Clinic on Scripture Street. Known to many as “Doc Lock,” he served the community for 52 years in the practice of radiology.

That legacy, alone, would have been enough to ensure his place in Denton County history, but Lockwood may best be remembered for his role in helping to establish Ann’s Haven Hospice in 1980, after losing his first wife, Ann, to cancer. It was typical of Lockwood, friends say, that he was able to overcome his grief to help develop such an innovative and effective community service.

The hospice concept was still relatively new in this country when a grief study group led by Lockwood proposed providing hospice care in Denton County.

“He was much more influential than he knew,” said Dr. Bert Hayslip, a regents professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Texas who along with Lockwood and others helped plan the opening of Ann’s Haven Hospice. “I don’t think we could have made it without him.”

Some were reluctant to embrace the concept of hospice care at that time, Hayslip said.

“He [Lockwood] was so well-known and respected; it removed the hurdles of referrals. At the time, that was a big impediment.”

Lockwood’s reputation and long record of community service was instrumental in finding support for Ann’s Haven, Hayslip said.

“His standing in the community didn’t hurt us financially. He was really a special person.”

Lockwood carried much of the load during the early years of Ann’s Haven, serving as its first medical director, longtime volunteer Nancy Griffin told us.

“He would never back down from ordering enough medicine to keep a patient pain-free,” Griffin said.

“He was very compassionate,” Hayslip said. “He was absolutely dedicated to Ann’s memory in the context of founding the hospice.”

As it grew and developed, Ann’s Haven touched many more lives and garnered more community support. It would be difficult to estimate just how many lives the organization has touched, Hayslip said.

“Directly and indirectly,” he said.

Lockwood never sought to impress others, Hayslip said.

“He was a wonderful guy, very unpretentious,” he said. “He never took himself all that seriously.

“He was a good man, a very good man.”

Funeral services for Lockwood are planned at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 1200 N. Elm St. in Denton.

Fittingly, the family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Ann’s Haven Hospice, 501 S. Carroll Blvd., Suite 201. Call 940-349-5900 for more information.