Mr. Robert G. Eckhardt, 87, of Tampa, Florida passed May 21, 2009. Handsome, with a great if sarcastic sense of humor, Bob was still joking at the end, "Call me Bob, everyone else does," he told the nurse. Orderly and always dependable. Bob served with distinction in the US Army in WWII, rising to Staff Sergeant. Bob was radioman on a C-47 troop transport. Served in the Africa and France campaigns; survived strafing while flying troops into the airborne invasion of Southern France on 15 August 1944. His coldest night was in Algeria, Africa. Honorably discharged 20 October 1945 with various awards and decorations, Bob returned to his wife, Marie Elizabeth (Betty) Buckhorn, and daughter Carol Lee in Levittown, New York where they lived for many years. Worked for the New York Times for nearly 50 years, starting as a messenger and then as an advertising salesman. Bob loved jazz, the Big Bands, target shooting, and photography. After Betty passed in 1993, married Jean Day in 1995. When she passed in 2005, committed to Ann Cook. Wanted a bit more but did pretty well for 87 years. Bob is survived by his daughter, Carol Lee Daniel of Pittsburgh, Pa; by grandchildren, Jamie, David and Eric Schloss; by step-children Tom, Rob and Janet Day; and by his Companion Ann Cook. A funeral service with military honors will take place at 11:00 A.M., Monday, June 8, 2009 at Florida National Cemetery and a celebration later that day at The Village.
"ENTRUSTED INTO CARE"
MacDonald Funeral Home