George Eichenberg

George Eichenberg, Jr. passed away on Sunday, July 9, 2023, in Athens, Ohio.  He was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1925 to parents George Sr. and Julia Lenhardt Eichenberg. He grew up in Cleveland where his parents operated a boarding house and also spent time on the family farm in what is now Highland Heights. A graduate of Mayfield High School, Mayfield, Ohio, George joined the Navy in March of 1943, immediately after his 18th birthday, serving in the Atlantic and Pacific during WWII. He served on a destroyer escort and was at the D-Day landing in France.  He was discharged in March, 1946. He had many fond memories of his navy days and spoke of them often.

George received B.B.A. and B.M.E. degrees from Fenn College, now Cleveland State University. Married to Ellen (Carlson) in 1949, they had two sons together, Bob Eichenberg of New Marshfield, Ohio, and Tom Eichenberg (Janet) of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Also surviving are grandchildren Arianna Rinaldi-Eichenberg of Athens, Ohio, Michael Rinaldi-Eichenberg of Cincinnati, Ohio, Alyssa Burton (Andrew) of Spotsylvania, Virginia, Megan Eichenberg of Falls Church, Virginia, sister, Lois Eichenberg of Aurora, Ohio, and sister-in-law Doris Carlson of Charleston, South Carolina. 

George and Ellen celebrated 73 years of marriage, and were nearly always together. George held engineering jobs at Pesco Products, TRW, and Caterpillar Tractor from which he retired in 1983. George enjoyed fishing, boating, attending sporting events, reading, woodworking, model ship building, leatherwork, wine drinking, and fixing about anything. He was known by many for the wooden stools he made throughout his retirement, most of which were given away to family and friends. He proudly stated that he made 652 of them in all. He was an active member of a World War II Navy Veteran’s group, attending their many functions and reunions. George was predeceased by his parents, wife Ellen (Carlson), and daughter-in-law Cecilia Rinaldi.

No public services are planned.  Arrangements are with Jagers and Sons Funeral Home in Athens, Ohio.  In lieu of flowers, donations in George’s name can be made to your local Humane Society; The Parkinson’s Foundation 200 SE 1st Street Suite 800 Miami, Florida 33131; or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Donor Services PO Box 22324 New York, NY 10087.  Please share a memory, a note of condolence, or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.