Judge Jesse E. Eschbach

Family-Placed Funeral Notice

JUDGE JESSE E. ESCHBACH Born October 26, 1920, passed away on October 25, 2005. He received his education in Warsaw, Indiana. Judge Eschbach graduated from the Indiana University, School of Business in 1943. He graduated JD with distinction from Indiana University School of Law in 1949 where he served on the Editorial Staff of Indiana Law Journal and published one note. He also served as President of his class and was elected to the Order of the Coif by the faculty. He was the Recipient of Hastings Scholarship and received the United States Law Week Award. During World War II, Judge Eschbach served on a mine sweeper as Gunnery and Executive Officer in the Pacific theater for two years. Judge Eschbach practiced law in Warsaw, Indiana for approximately thirteen years where he was a partner in the firm of Graham, Rasor, Eschbach & Harris. He served as President of the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce and President of the Rotary Club. In 1954, Judge Eschbach was elected chairman of the Young Lawyers Section of the Indiana State Bar Association where he served on the Board of Managers of the Indiana State Bar Association. In 1959 and 1960, he served on the Labor Relations Committee of the United States Chamber of Commerce. From 1965 to 1970, Judge Eschbach served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Indiana University. He was named “Man of the Year” in 1969 by the Warsaw Times Union and Chamber of Commerce. Judge Eschbach served on the Indiana University School of Law Board of Visitors. He was inducted into the Academy of Alumni where he received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 1986. In 1983, he received the “Doctor of Laws” degree from Indiana University. Judge Eschbach was the first republican appointed to the Federal Bench by President John F. Kennedy in 1962. He served as United States District Judge in the Northern District of Indiana from May, 1962 until December 11, 1981, having been the Chief Judge from 1974 through 1981. In 1981, Judge Eschbach was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit by President Ronald Reagan. The Chicago-based circuit hears appeals from the U.S. District Courts from Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. A further appeal goes to the United States Supreme Court. Immediately preceding his appointment to the Court of Appeals, he was rated as “exceptionally well qualified” by the American Bar Association – the highest rating given. Judge Eschbach was affiliated with the Indiana State Bar Association, the First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, Florida. He was a long time member and resident of the Delray Dunes Golf and Country Club; a former member of the Union League Club of Chicago; and named “Sagamore of the Wabash” by Governor Frank O'Bannon of Indiana in 2000. Judge Eschbach was a member of Beta Theta Pi. Survivors include his wife, Sara (Sally) Walker, married March 15, 1947 in Indianapolis. Two children, Jesse E. Eschbach III, Professor, University of North Texas, and Virginia Eschbach, MD, a practicing radiologist in Seattle and environs; two granddaughters, Lauren and Ellen Favale. A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 31, 2005 at 2:00 PM at the Titus Funeral Home, 2000 Sheridan Street, Warsaw, IN. A memorial service at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County. 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407