LCDR Charles Gerard Eichhorn of Orange Park, Florida, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 1, 2020. Born on July 14th, 1933 and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Charlie was the youngest of three boys. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School studying Electrical Engineering.
In the early 1950s, he and his parents moved from New York to Los Angeles. In 1952, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and obtained a specialty in journalism. He served four years and rose to the rank of Petty Officer First Class before leaving to attend college. He earned his AA in Journalism at Los Angeles Valley College in 1958 and then his BA in Journalism at San Fernando State College in 1961.
Later in 1961, Charlie returned to the U.S. Navy and completed a Pre-Flight program in Pensacola, Florida where he was commissioned as an Ensign. He was then stationed at Glynco, Georgia where he earned his wings in 1962. He then served in VW-13, an Airborne Early Warning flight squadron, based at NS Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada. As a Naval Flight Officer, he flew the Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star. Later, as a Hurricane Hunter, he logged more than 2000 hours of flight time.
While stationed in Newfoundland, Charlie met Johanna Maher and they were married on February 8, 1964. Charlie & Johanna recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary. Together, they had two children, Charles Gerard Eichhorn, Jr. and Grace Staten.
As Charlie’s military career progressed, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1970 and the family moved across North America frequently as he was stationed in California, Illinois, Pennsylvania before returning to Newfoundland again. He retired from the Navy with distinction in 1977 and settled in Orange Park, Florida.
Following this, he returned to school and studied psychology at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. He would later work as a stockbroker and a real estate agent. He attended St. Catherine’s Catholic Church and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Charlie is predeceased by his parents, Charles Peter Eichhorn and Grace Thompson, and his brothers, George Francis Eichhorn and Clifford Charles Eichhorn. He is survived by his wife, Johanna; his son, Charles (Kendall Brunson); his daughter, Grace (Robert Staten) and their two children, Andrew and Catherine Staten.
