Richard Holvey Eckert

Captain Richard Holvey Eckert, USN (Retired), age 88 of Whitehouse, Ohio, passed away Thursday, March 30 2017 in Hospice of Northwest Ohio Inpatient Unit, Perrysburg. He was born October 8, 1928 in Akron, Ohio to Homer and Ruth Eckert. Dick graduated from Akron East High School, attended Ohio State University, and then entered the United States Naval Academy where he graduated in 1951. He earned his Naval Aviator wings in 1952, and his Aeronautical Engineering degree in 1966. In 1955 he participated in Patrol Squadron One’s flight around the world. Dick proudly served his country and the Navy for 26 years in duty stations across the U.S., at sea aboard the U.S.S. Lexington, and in the Far East in Japan and the Philippines. He participated in the Tachen evacuation during the Korean War and was awarded the Air Medal and China Service Medal. For his service in Vietnam, he was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Dick retired from the Navy in 1976 and began work in the private sector as a Consulting Engineer for jet propulsion for Pratt and Whitney in Palm Beach, Florida, and later for Teledyne in Toledo, Ohio. There he met Margie Langell in 1980 at a singles dance. They were married in January 4, 1985. Dick retired from the private sector in that same year. Dick enjoyed traveling, visiting the naval bases he was stationed at and attending air shows with his wife, Margie. Dick was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Pamela Eckert-Saucedo; sisters Lucille Garman and Dorothy Moats; and brother James Eckert. He is survived by his wife Margaret Mae Eckert; sister Betty Culbertson; son Richard Craig Eckert; daughter Wendy Lynne Eckert; step-children David Bruce (Debra) Langell, Julie Ann (John) Cunningham and Janice Kay (Michael) Wolfe; 9 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. Friends may visit the family on Tuesday April 4, 2017 in the Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, Maumee after 4 PM where funeral services will follow at 7 PM. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to the Navy and Marine Corp Relief Society (nmcrs.org). Condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com