Robert Frank Eckard

Robert “Bob” Frank Eckard, age 93, passed away on Tuesday January 20, 2015 at his home. Funeral Service and Mass will be at 10:00a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2015 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 5410 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. Burial will follow in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories Cemetery. A rosary will be held from 6:00p.m. – 6:30p.m., followed by visitation from 6:30p.m. to 8:00p.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at the Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 Hwy 277 South.

Bob was born June 13, 1921 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of the late Russell and Martha Eckard. Bob grew up in Cincinnati and graduated from Western Hills High School. He spent much of his youth on the waterfront of the Ohio River and playing baseball. As a young adult, his skills as a baseball player caught the attention of a scout with the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Organization. The scout told him that he was the finest young shortstop prospect he had ever seen and to come see him after the war. Duty, Honor, Country came first. He enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corp. in 1942. While training in the Pacific, he was a part of a landing barge accident that crushed and nearly took his leg, thus ending his dreams of Major League Baseball. He later learned that he was training for the assault on Iwo Jima, where many of his friends perished. He had an honorable discharge from the Marine Corp on July 20, 1945 with the rank of Corporal.

Several years after the war, he found employment with the J.C. Penney Company in Cincinnati. This is where a beautiful young lady, Rose Mary Schuler, caught his eye. They married on May 24, 1952 and were soon transferred to Houston, Texas with the Penney Company. Bob’s final transfer with the Penney Company came in 1965 to Abilene. There he was the manager for many years of the Westgate Mall Store until his retirement in 1973. After retirement from Penney’s, he owned and operated eight different businesses in the mall up to the late 70’s. A family friend recently referred to him as Mr. Westgate Mall.

Bob had a great sense of humor and wit. He loved to spend time with his family, take rides in the country, read about history and watch baseball and football on TV. He was a former Rotarian and member of Holy Family Catholic Church.

His parents and one sister, Shirley Evans, preceded Bob in death. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rose Mary Eckard and four children. Julie Tosh and husband Jack of Bedford, Jeannine Crawford and husband Jay of Mebane, NC, Shara Eckard of Weatherford and Jeff Eckard of Abilene. He has two grandchildren, Claire and husband Dr. Erick Singh of Lexington, SC and Kellye Crawford of Charleston, SC. and one great grandchild, Eli Singh.

Memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors Project. We would also like to give a special thanks to Hendrick Hospice. To leave an online condolence for the family, go to www.elliott-hamil.com.