Herbert Eckman, 88

Herbert William Eckman, age 88, of West Unity, Ohio, died at 7:55 A.M. on Saturday, August 3, 2013, in his home after an extended illness. Mr. Eckman was 1943 graduate of Ligonier, Indiana, High School. While attending the University of Texas, in 1943 he joined the United States Maritime Service as a Deck Cadet. In 1945 he received his 3rd Mate license and Naval Reserve Commission as an Ensign at the United States Maritime Service Officer Training School in New London, Connecticut. He served on Liberty ships in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific Theatres during World War II, from 1943-1946. Upon returning to college, he received his associate degree in surveying in 1948 and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1955 from Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana. He was hired by Douglas Aircraft and moved to Whittier, California, in 1955. From 1956-1963 he worked as a sales estimator and finally as sales manager at Riverside Steel Construction. In 1963, he started Eckman Steel Incorporated, a steel fabricating company, and in 1972 started Eckman Manufacturing Company in Ontario, California, fabricating five-ton steel cranes and serving as a backup fabricator to Eckman Steel. He also developed four steel rental buildings, including one for Eckman Manufacturing on five acres in Ontario, and in 1978 sold all his businesses and properties and retired to his home area, the tri-state area of northwest Ohio. Herbert kept busy in retirement by earing a Certificate in Genealogy, Professional Option, from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, becoming a certified genealogist from 1993-1998. He had done extensive family research on the Campbells and Aikmans in addition to compiling land records for Cook Township in Westmorland County and ten southern townships of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, plus Jefferson Township in Williams County, Ohio. Herbert loved his family and especially enjoyed astronomy and working around his property and in his woods.

Herbert William Eckman was born on July 22, 1925, in South Bend, Indiana, the son of Herbert Walter and Sarah Margaret (McCullough) Eckman. He married Beatrice L. Paison on June 1, 1947, in Morenci, Michigan, and she preceded him in death on December 21, 2011.

He is survived by his children, Pamela (and longtime companion, David Wineland) Kast, of Bryan, Cindy Lucas, of West Unity, William (Donna) Eckman, of Murrieta, California, and Deborah (Dennis L.) Wann, of Bryan, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his parents, one sister, June Herber, and one brother, Robert Eckman.

There will be no services at this time and interment will be private with Krill Funeral Service, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan, in handling arrangements.

Memorials are requested to the Williams County Humane Society.