Lebanon County PA Archives Obituaries.....Eck, Herbert A.  February 27, 2012
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  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Sharon S. M shabodeho@aol.com March 3, 2012, 9:19 pm
  
  Published in Lebanon Daily News on February 29, 2012
  Herbert A. Eck 
  
  LEBANON The Phillies and Eagles, voracious reading, Maker's Mark, daytime 
  soaps, ice cream, Tastykakes, playing cards, breakfast, talking about World 
  War II - these were a few of Bud Eck's favorite things. Born in Lebanon on 
  October 17, 1918, to Ambrose and Ruth (Strohman) Eck, Herbert Ambrose "Bud" 
  Eck was a lifelong city resident who took great pleasure in time spent with 
  loved ones. He savored the small joys of life, such as delving into Tom 
  Clancy's latest thriller and enjoying a cold beer while watching the Phillies 
  clobber the Cardinals (much to the chagrin of his Cardinals-loving son-in-law, 
  Steve). A 1936 graduate of Lebanon High School, he followed in his father and 
  four uncles' footsteps in 1937 by joining the crew at Bethlehem Steel, working 
  his way up to chief shipping clerk and then assistant foreman in the bolt and 
  nut warehouse. He retired in 1981 after 44 years of service. Bud enlisted in 
  the U.S. Army in November 1941 and served as a Corporal and Assistant Squad 
  Sergeant in the 19th Combat Engineer Regiment. He trained at Fort Leonard Wood 
  and his Regiment took up defensive positions against a possible Japanese 
  invasion of California early in the war, when a Japanese submarine shelled 
  Santa Barbara. In August 1942 his Regiment sailed to Europe to serve in 
  Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England. They landed in North Africa on 
  African D-Day, November 8, 1942, and entered the Tunisian campaign in January 
  1943. They held the right flank for 72 hours in Kasserine Pass and provided 
  cover for several other infantry divisions in the concluding phase of the 
  African campaign. While serving in support of a Ranger battalion, the 19th 
  Engineers removed more than 15,000 mines from a single minefield in Sened, 
  Tunisia. They were in the vanguard during the invasion of Sicily and built the 
  first American airfields there. They cleared the beaches for incoming supplies 
  and supported infantry divisions in the advance to the Messina Straits. Bud's 
  Regiment entered the Italian campaign in October 1943. They backed up 
  infantry, ferried doughboys across rivers through intense gunfire, cleared 
  mines, built and maintained footbridges, and held open approach routes to the 
  water barrier. In the Rome offensive, they supported the First Special Service 
  Force and the 85th Custer and 88th Blue Devil divisions, and also aided them 
  as they bridged the Arno River and breached the Gothic Line. While in Italy, 
  Bud was lucky enough to meet General Patton. Throughout the war Bud kept a 
  lock of his childhood sweetheart Teeny's hair with him - a keepsake he saved 
  for the rest of his life. In May 1945, shortly after he returned from Europe, 
  he and Teeny married, relishing 46 sweet, dedicated years of marriage until 
  she passed away in 1991. They raised two daughters; spent time taking road 
  trips near and far with neighbors, family, and friends; and later embraced 
  grandparent hood with gusto. A long-time member of St. Mark's United Church of 
  Christ, Bud was a quietly faithful man, one who was funny, humble, charming, 
  thoughtful (on snowy days he would often dig out his neighbor's car and 
  sidewalk before she even arose for work), generous, stubborn (good luck trying 
  to wrestle that restaurant check away from him!), compassionate toward other 
  people and animals, and seasoned with a delightful Pennsylvania Dutch zest. He 
  loved the holidays. Even in his nineties, he still took the time to decorate 
  for Christmas and set up a tree each year. And the man made a mean potato 
  filling! Herb, Bud, Dad, Papa, Papa Bud - however people knew him, they 
  respected and cherished him. When he passed away peacefully on Monday, 
  February 27, 2012, he left a Bud-shaped hole in the world that is keenly felt 
  by all who loved him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Christine "Teeny" 
  (Snyder) Eck; his sister, Dorothy Binner; and his parents. He is survived by 
  daughters, Susan Boyer (William Zappini) of Harrisburg and Kay Peyton 
  (Stephen) of Pinehurst, N.C.; grandchildren, Kristen Errera (Bryan) of 
  Middletown, Md., Jennifer Boyer of Frederick, Md., Kelly Carron of Malden, 
  Mass., and Scott Peyton of San Francisco, Calif.; great-grandchildren, Olivia 
  Errera and Peyton Carron; sister, Patricia Stormfeltz of Lebanon; and numerous 
  nephews, nieces, and grand-nephews, and grand-nieces. Internment will be at 
  Ebenezer Greenwood Cemetery on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at 11 a.m. 
   
  Published in Lebanon Daily News on February 29, 2012 
   
  
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