CLIFFORD EARL ECKERT

Clifford Earl Eckert, best known as "Skip", 80 years old, and a resident of Edgewater, Florida, passed away on February 28, 2011. At the time of his death he was admitted to the Halifax-Health Volusia / Flagler Hospice facility in Edgewater, Florida. He died of complications from a very recent illness. Skip was born on January 5, 1931 in Toledo, Ohio. His parents were Sherman and Susan Eckert. His foster parents were Harry and Ruby Stewart of Delta, Ohio. He had a brother, Sherman; his wife is Veda, of Toledo; and a sister, Grace Sly, of Fayette, Ohio, her husband is Don Sly. Skip also had a foster brother and foster sister, John Stewart and Patricia Gormley. Pat's husband is Joseph. Skip graduated from Delta High School, Delta, Ohio, in 1950. He was married on June 23, 1951 to Doris Brown at the Delta Church of Christ. He was married for fifty-seven years and Doris has pre-deceased him. Skip worked for nearly forty-five years at AP Parts in Toledo, Ohio. He began his career as an order clerk and worked his way to become a journeyman millwright and machinist. He was a proud member of the United Auto Workers. Skip enjoyed fishing, traveling, RVing, working on cars, and carpentry. Earlier in his life Skip was a dedicated farmer. For his entire life Skip was a devout Christian. He was always a leader of his church. He served for many years as a youth sponsor, bible schoolteacher, a Deacon and an Elder. He served at the Delta Church of Christ in Delta, Ohio, the New Smyrna Beach Christian Church, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and was a founding member of the Edgewater Christian Church of Edgewater, Florida. Skip was well known for his sense of humor, his frugality, and his love of family. He is survived by his four sons and their wives; Glenn Eckert, and Mary of Delta Ohio, Rick Eckert, of Edgewater, Florida, Norman Eckert and Darlene of Louisville, Kentucky, Stacy Eckert and Hedy of Lake Helen, Florida. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren and step-grandchildren, ten great-grand-children and step-grand-children, and very many nieces and nephews along with numerous friends. We will miss Skip. He was a true believer and a good man.