Lt John Richard Eckert USN (Ret)

John Richard Eckert, 66, passed peacefully surrounded by immediate family, April 11, 2020, Jacksonville, FL. He graduated in 1971 from Brookland-Cayce High School. During high school he was the head cook at Frank-N-Steins where he fell in love with his wife. Upon graduation he joined the United States Navy on November 15, 1971, during his 23 years of service he was stationed many places for deployment and earned many titles and ranks, Aircraft Organizational Maintenance Officer, Avionics/Weapons division, Nuclear Weapons Instructor, Special Weapons Assembly Officer and Division Weapons Officer. He was dedicated to his country and received awards for Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal, Battle “E” Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Sea Service Ribbon, Navy Aircrew wings, Good Conduct Medal, Southwest Asia Service, Expert Pistol Medal, and Expert Rifle Medal. He retired, January 31, 1994 as Lt. John Richard Eckert. In 1972 he married Faye Wiseman, the two of them together are every romantic story and fairytale combined and then some. They have been married for 47 years and have two children. They have remained each other’s love and always kept Christ as the center of their marriage. They attended Normandy Baptist Temple (aka West Jacksonville Baptist Church).

After retiring in 1994, he decided that he had not traveled enough and became an over the road truck driver with Schneider Trucking. That ended two years later and in 1996 he became a PECO, Police Emergency Communications Officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, where he received many Commendations along with Telecommunicator of the Year and in October of 2018 after 22 years of service to the city, he finally decided it was time to retire.

He had a passion for God, country and family but also a passion for NASCAR. His favorite driver was Dale Earnhardt. He enjoyed building models of the #3 car, and would never let anything come between him and the TV on any race day.

He enjoyed spending time with family and all his granddaughters, babysitting and going to the movies were one of the many things he did with them. He was one who didn’t like the big things or grand gestures, he was private and oh so humble. He lived his life as an example, wasn’t always easy, but it was full of love. So, maybe he did love the big things and grand gestures, he may have thought they were little.

John is predeceased by his father, George John Eckert; mother, LaVetta McAlhaney; and sister, Laura DeFee. He is survived by his loving wife, Faye Eckert; daughter, Cheri (KC) O’Steen; son, Deacon (Tiffany) Eckert; his four beautiful granddaughters Gabrielle & Taylor O’Steen, and Kayla and Raven Eckert; his sister, Carolyn Fulmer of Saluda, South Carolina; brother in law, Edward Wiseman; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends.

The family will receive friends prior to the Celebration of Life starting at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 1, 2020 at Hardage-Giddens Riverside Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32205. A Celebration of Life service will follow beginning at 12:00 p.m.

Hardage-Giddens Riverside Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32205 is serving the family. Please leave words of comfort and condolences for the family on our online guest register at www.hgriversidefuneralhome.com