Jay Kline Locher

I will preface this with “God surely created one of his masterpieces” for all of us left behind. His long journey of 106 years is full of those who knew him and shared his wisdom. He was a loved man and gave back that love to all he met. I would say he had three great loves: 1. His Music 2. His Family and 3. All of you that he met.

My wonderful father, Jay Kline Locher (known as: Kline Locher), passed on June 1, 2026.

He was born the only son of Roma (Kline) Locher and George F. Locher on October 18, 1919, in Youngstown, Ohio

He was brought up during the depression to a resourceful father (that owned a Tire shop where Kline worked during his youth) and a strict mother (bound & determined to have him learn Piano). He made a deal with Mom: He would learn piano if she allowed him to take trumpet lessons. He became proficient in both instruments.

After graduating Rayan High School in 1937 he worked at Youngstown Sheet and Tube for a brief period. He decided his love for music needed attention.

This was during the height of the Big Band era, so he latched on to a job as a “Band Boy” to get a foot in the door. That foot led to Lead Trumpet jobs with numerous Big Band Names of the era like (Teddy Powell Band, Woody Herman Band, Benny Goodman Band, Jimmy Dorsey Band) to name a few. In fact, he auditioned for Lawrence Welk and was offered a job but had to turn it down because he was making more money with the current band he was with.

He joined the Army in 1944 and was assigned as a Medic. However, the brass found out about his talent as a band leader and took him off medic duty and assigned him the task of organizing and leading a new military band playing for troops and traveling to different events. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

After the military he returned home to Youngstown Ohio and found a job in the Music Department with Strouss-Hirshberg rising to VP under the tutelage of Mr. Ben Winters.

His reputation found its way throughout the music industry, and he held VP positions for various piano manufactures. In 2004 as a member of the National Association of Music Manufactures (NAMM) during their 100-year anniversary meeting in California he received an unexpected tribute. He was awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award. They taped a half hour interview with him and stored it in their 100-year Time Capsule to be opened in 2104.

After surviving a diagnosis of terminal cancer, he “retired.” I put retired in quotes because he was in no way finished contributing to life’s journey.

He worked until the age of 102 (drawing a paycheck) as a Golf Ranger at the Falcon Watch and Scepter Sun City Golf Courses. Only a fall and a broken femur bone ended that career.

In 2011 at 92-years old he and a dear friend Don Wright & lovely wife Lori from Sun City collaborated on his new endeavor (becoming an author). He wrote his autobiography titled “What A Life” (available at Amazon). Also, I want to send a special Thank You out to Mr. Frank Lewis of Sun City Center who spent hours upon hours visiting Dad and sharing stories after Mom passed.

As a golfer he did not hit long but he hit straight, and I suspect since he lived and played for so long, he may be a record holder for shooting his age or under. He was turning in low 80’s in his 90’s.

Then there is the music popping up again: In 1986 he and mom moved to Sun City Center Fl. He continued his musical journey by playing trumpet in a jazz band (The Par Four) that took jobs in the surrounding area. That 4-man group of musicians used Golf Carts during the winter season to play music “on the road” for those Sun City residents that may be shut in during the holiday season. They performed from 1988 to 1998. In 1993 He was drafted to become the Band Leader and write music arrangements for the Sun City Big Band which had as many as 18-20 musicians/singers. He remained in that position for the next 13 years.

His favorite times were on cruises that Dad, his son Bob & wife Maureen and who he referred to as his other son Jon and his wife Terri. We had a blast. The men and women had five different outfits, down to the shoes that were exactly alike. Whenever we went out on the ship we wore the same costumes. When introduced to strangers the men identified themselves as the father (Dad), The son (Bob), and the holy ghost (Jon). Many thought we were part of the entertainment and wanted photos with us and some even remembered us from a previous cruise.

He married his beautiful wife Fran Bispeck, who was also working for Strouss-Hirshberg as an Executive Secretary in the Music Teaching Department. They were happily married until her sad passing in 2014. Their daughter Sister Roma Jean Locher a Carmelite Nun cloistered in Little Rock AR was born with a congenital heart defect and left for heaven too soon in 1983.

Dad is survived by his son Robert Locher and wife Maureen Locher.

Dad had many relatives that called him Dad or Grandpa. He would want to recognize them in his final farewell: granddaughters’ Tracey, Veronica, Virginia, and Susie, along with their husbands and children.

Military burial will be on June 18, 2026, 11AM at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

Life well Lived Dad!