Ray Howard Eckard, a lifelong resident of Hickory, an accountant, and a World War II veteran, died Sunday, July 24, 2017, at Frye Regional Medical Center. He was 93 years old.
Mr. Eckard was born August 10, 1923, to James A. Eckard and Estelle Hollar Eckard.
He graduated from St. Stephens High School and received a degree in business and accounting from Clevenger Business College. He served three years in the U.S. Army during World War II as a member of the 385th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, Battery C. He trained at Camp Edwards in Massachusetts and Camp Rucker in Alabama before going overseas. His wartime service was in the European Theater, and he spent time in France, Belgium, and Germany. He was among the forces that landed on Utah Beach in Normandy on D-Day Plus 1 in June 1944. He received a certificate and a medal from France for his role in the liberation of the country. Mr. Eckard often attended reunions of his Army battalion.
Mr. Eckard was a longtime partner in the accounting firm Risch, Eckard, and Deitz in Hickory. After he sold his business, he did accounting for Quality Cleaners in Hickory, and worked until his final illness began July 4. He was a member of Unity Lutheran Church in Hickory.
Mr. Eckard is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sarah Crump Eckard, who resides at Trinity Village in long-term care. Mr. and Mrs. Eckard shared the same birth date and were married June 19, 1949. Mr. Eckard is also survived by his daughter, Cynthia Margaret Eckard of Hickory. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Wilma Rose Lail and Ruby Lois Cline. Other survivors include his sisters' widowers, Clyde Lincoln Lail, and Bobby Lee Cine, both of Hickory. Also surviving are sister-in-law, Betty Blackburn of Newton and Marjorie McDermott of Concord; brothers-in-law, William Howard Crump and wife Ruth, of Connelly Springs, and Kenneth Crump and wife Donna, of Shelby; numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Eckard's favorite companion in his last years was his granddog, Snickerdoodle.
He was an avid gardener at his northwest Hickory home. Mr. Eckard was a devoted to his family, his church, and his work, serving all faithfully and diligently throughout his life.
Visitation will be Saturday, July 29, 2017 from 9:45 am to 10:45 am at Unity Lutheran Church. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 11:00 am at Unity Lutheran Church with Reverend Kate Crecelius officiating. Burial will follow at Catawba Memorial Park.
Source Citation: Hickory Funeral Home
Mr. Eckard was born August 10, 1923, to James A. Eckard and Estelle Hollar Eckard.
He graduated from St. Stephens High School and received a degree in business and accounting from Clevenger Business College. He served three years in the U.S. Army during World War II as a member of the 385th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, Battery C. He trained at Camp Edwards in Massachusetts and Camp Rucker in Alabama before going overseas. His wartime service was in the European Theater, and he spent time in France, Belgium, and Germany. He was among the forces that landed on Utah Beach in Normandy on D-Day Plus 1 in June 1944. He received a certificate and a medal from France for his role in the liberation of the country. Mr. Eckard often attended reunions of his Army battalion.
Mr. Eckard was a longtime partner in the accounting firm Risch, Eckard, and Deitz in Hickory. After he sold his business, he did accounting for Quality Cleaners in Hickory, and worked until his final illness began July 4. He was a member of Unity Lutheran Church in Hickory.
Mr. Eckard is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sarah Crump Eckard, who resides at Trinity Village in long-term care. Mr. and Mrs. Eckard shared the same birth date and were married June 19, 1949. Mr. Eckard is also survived by his daughter, Cynthia Margaret Eckard of Hickory. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Wilma Rose Lail and Ruby Lois Cline. Other survivors include his sisters' widowers, Clyde Lincoln Lail, and Bobby Lee Cine, both of Hickory. Also surviving are sister-in-law, Betty Blackburn of Newton and Marjorie McDermott of Concord; brothers-in-law, William Howard Crump and wife Ruth, of Connelly Springs, and Kenneth Crump and wife Donna, of Shelby; numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Eckard's favorite companion in his last years was his granddog, Snickerdoodle.
He was an avid gardener at his northwest Hickory home. Mr. Eckard was a devoted to his family, his church, and his work, serving all faithfully and diligently throughout his life.
Visitation will be Saturday, July 29, 2017 from 9:45 am to 10:45 am at Unity Lutheran Church. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 11:00 am at Unity Lutheran Church with Reverend Kate Crecelius officiating. Burial will follow at Catawba Memorial Park.
Source Citation: Hickory Funeral Home
Ray Howard Eckard, a lifelong resident of Hickory, an accountant, and a World War II veteran, died Sunday, July 24, 2017, at Frye Regional Medical Center. He was 93 years old.
Mr. Eckard was born August 10, 1923, to James A. Eckard and Estelle Hollar Eckard.
He graduated from St. Stephens High School and received a degree in business and accounting from Clevenger Business College. He served three years in the U.S. Army during World War II as a member of the 385th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, Battery C. He trained at Camp Edwards in Massachusetts and Camp Rucker in Alabama before going overseas. His wartime service was in the European Theater, and he spent time in France, Belgium, and Germany. He was among the forces that landed on Utah Beach in Normandy on D-Day Plus 1 in June 1944. He received a certificate and a medal from France for his role in the liberation of the country. Mr. Eckard often attended reunions of his Army battalion.
Mr. Eckard was a longtime partner in the accounting firm Risch, Eckard, and Deitz in Hickory. After he sold his business, he did accounting for Quality Cleaners in Hickory, and worked until his final illness began July 4. He was a member of Unity Lutheran Church in Hickory.
Mr. Eckard is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sarah Crump Eckard, who resides at Trinity Village in long-term care. Mr. and Mrs. Eckard shared the same birth date and were married June 19, 1949. Mr. Eckard is also survived by his daughter, Cynthia Margaret Eckard of Hickory. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Wilma Rose Lail and Ruby Lois Cline. Other survivors include his sisters' widowers, Clyde Lincoln Lail, and Bobby Lee Cine, both of Hickory. Also surviving are sister-in-law, Betty Blackburn of Newton and Marjorie McDermott of Concord; brothers-in-law, William Howard Crump and wife Ruth, of Connelly Springs, and Kenneth Crump and wife Donna, of Shelby; numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Eckard's favorite companion in his last years was his granddog, Snickerdoodle.
He was an avid gardener at his northwest Hickory home. Mr. Eckard was a devoted to his family, his church, and his work, serving all faithfully and diligently throughout his life.
Visitation will be Saturday, July 29, 2017 from 9:45 am to 10:45 am at Unity Lutheran Church. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 11:00 am at Unity Lutheran Church with Reverend Kate Crecelius officiating. Burial will follow at Catawba Memorial Park.
Source Citation: Hickory Funeral Home
Mr. Eckard was born August 10, 1923, to James A. Eckard and Estelle Hollar Eckard.
He graduated from St. Stephens High School and received a degree in business and accounting from Clevenger Business College. He served three years in the U.S. Army during World War II as a member of the 385th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, Battery C. He trained at Camp Edwards in Massachusetts and Camp Rucker in Alabama before going overseas. His wartime service was in the European Theater, and he spent time in France, Belgium, and Germany. He was among the forces that landed on Utah Beach in Normandy on D-Day Plus 1 in June 1944. He received a certificate and a medal from France for his role in the liberation of the country. Mr. Eckard often attended reunions of his Army battalion.
Mr. Eckard was a longtime partner in the accounting firm Risch, Eckard, and Deitz in Hickory. After he sold his business, he did accounting for Quality Cleaners in Hickory, and worked until his final illness began July 4. He was a member of Unity Lutheran Church in Hickory.
Mr. Eckard is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sarah Crump Eckard, who resides at Trinity Village in long-term care. Mr. and Mrs. Eckard shared the same birth date and were married June 19, 1949. Mr. Eckard is also survived by his daughter, Cynthia Margaret Eckard of Hickory. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Wilma Rose Lail and Ruby Lois Cline. Other survivors include his sisters' widowers, Clyde Lincoln Lail, and Bobby Lee Cine, both of Hickory. Also surviving are sister-in-law, Betty Blackburn of Newton and Marjorie McDermott of Concord; brothers-in-law, William Howard Crump and wife Ruth, of Connelly Springs, and Kenneth Crump and wife Donna, of Shelby; numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Eckard's favorite companion in his last years was his granddog, Snickerdoodle.
He was an avid gardener at his northwest Hickory home. Mr. Eckard was a devoted to his family, his church, and his work, serving all faithfully and diligently throughout his life.
Visitation will be Saturday, July 29, 2017 from 9:45 am to 10:45 am at Unity Lutheran Church. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 11:00 am at Unity Lutheran Church with Reverend Kate Crecelius officiating. Burial will follow at Catawba Memorial Park.
Source Citation: Hickory Funeral Home
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