Gilbert Paul Eckard Jr. Gilbert Paul Eckard Jr., age 64 died Sunday, July 1, 2007 in Duluth, Georgia, after a valiant eight month battle with brain cancer.

He was born in Erie on December 8, 1942, the son of the late Gilbert P. Eckard and Helen V. (Hyziewicz) Eckard. He was a 1960 graduate of Academy High School and served in the United States Army.

In 1964, he married his high school sweetheart, Sue Clark and was a loving, caring husband for 43 years. He resided in Erie most of his life working briefly at State Street Food Market and American Tinning and Galvanizing before his 36 years of loyal, hard work at General Electric in the locomotive division.

After an early-retirement in October 2000, he and his wife moved to their personal paradise, Spruce Creek Golf and Country Club in Summerfield, Florida, where he was able to swim, play water volleyball and golf almost every day. He also enjoyed woodworking and building toys when his children were small. He loved to play games and cards with his family or friends at any gathering. He was a regular attendee at the weekly trivia and bocce league with all of his friends in Florida.

He is most loved for creating wonderful memories and experiences with his friends, family and six grandchildren. He touched our hearts and souls in a special way and all loved to be around him. He was a man of few words but was a role model for all. His quiet, humble, dependable, caring, good natured personality will be sorely missed by everyone that knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sue (Clark), one son, Jeffrey Eckard and his wife Cheryl (Walczak) of Duluth, Ga., one daughter, Sara Blair and her husband Greg of Nashville, Tenn., six grandchildren: Corey, Justin, Brendan and Meredith Eckard and Zachary and Nicholas Blair, one brother, Thomas Eckard of Erie, one sister, Rose Marie Little of McKean, one Aunt, Mary Jane Hyziewicz of Erie, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Francis V. Kloecker Funeral Home, Inc. 2502 Sassafras St. Erie, Pennsylvania 16502 on Sunday July 8, 2007 from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. and are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, July 9th, 2007 at Holy Rosary R.C. Church at 10 a.m. Send condolences to www.kloeckerfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the charity of one’s choice.