Sept. 13, 1929 —  June 15, 2012

John Jacob Eckhardt died peacefully on June 15, 2012, at his daughter’s home in Davis, with three of his children by his side.

Born in Ritzville, Wash., grew up on a farm outside of Ritzville and he spoke fondly of chasing roosters, playing with dogs and milking cows. Later, the family moved into town and he graduated from Ritzville High School in 1948. After graduating, he worked at his father Jake’s machine shop before joining the Air Force. While stationed in England, he met his first wife Marge, and they were blessed with two children, Angie and Julie. Marge and Johnny divorced in 1959. He later met and married Ruthie Webb in 1964, who like him, was a Ritzville native. They enjoyed telling the story of how they met at a dance in Spokane and had gone around the dance floor twice before realizing they already knew each other. They welcomed three children, Briana, John and Jamie to their home in Harrington. Sadly, Johnny and Ruthie’s time together was too short, as she passed away in 1982 from breast cancer.

In 1960, Johnny embarked on what would become his life’s work when he moved to Harrington and opened his own metal working/repair shop originally called A and D Welding, which he later renamed Eckhardt Fabricating. He was a master welder and machinist and many of his tractor cabs and truck beds are still in use. The shop was a hub of activity for the repair of farm equipment, swapping stories, and for his children to learn metal working skills. The boys, especially, benefitted from his patient teaching methods and remember welding thousands of beads as practice before Dad let them move on to real work.

Johnny was a member of the Masons and cared deeply for their traditions. Late in life he again joined the Zion Congregational Church, which had been the church of his youth, and he greatly enjoyed being in contact with his family and friends there. Johnny had a well-spent life raising his children, running his business and exhibiting great humor. He was known for his contagious laugh, his jokes and stories, and for his quirky phrases. Even in his last days he retained his sweet and gentle personality.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Anna, his wife Ruthie, his son-in-law Tom (Julie) Boruff, and his sister Marguerite McCrorey. He is survived by his brother Bill (Dorothy) Eckhardt of Ritzville; his sister Mary (Bill) Millard of Mattawa, Wash.; his children Angie Finkelnburg of Kent, Wash., Julie Boruff of Ephrata, Wash., Briana Eckhardt Young of Davis, John (Esmeralda) Eckhardt of Hermiston, Ore., and Jamie (Shauna) Eckhardt of Shoreline, Wash.; his 10 grandchildren and by his dog Sparky.

Services will be held for John on Saturday, July 21, at the Zion Congregational Church, 301 E. Broadway, Ritzville, in Washington. A family graveside service is planned at 2 p.m., followed by the memorial service at 3 p.m. in the church and a light supper at 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the Zion Congregational Church, 301 E. Broadway, Ritzville, Wash., or to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 2143 Hurley Way Suite 110, Sacramento, CA 95825.

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