Norman Arlington Eckert

Age 99 of Boynton Beach, FL passed away peacefully December 1, 2015. He was blessed to be married for 81 years and living with his wife Carrie until his last day. He was the patriarch of five generations with 2 daughters, 5 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren. He proudly served our country in the Korean War as a First Sergeant in the U.S. Army. Mr. Eckert was a conductor for New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad and Amtrak for over 40 years before retiring to Florida. He was an accomplished drummer playing in marching bands and orchestras in his free time since he was 14 years old. He still picked up his drumsticks at 99. He was a volunteer fireman with the Walden Fire Department. He was a skilled craftsman and one of his great pleasures was to do repairs and create crafts for his family and friends. He was born in Walden, New York to George and Stella (Van Houten) Eckert. Mr. Eckert is survived by his wife, Carrie, his two daughters, Lillian (Richard) Miessau and Norma (Mark) Goodfriend, 5 grandchildren, Carrie (Jerry) Guthrie, Sally (Michael) Sharkevich, Richard II (Cordella) Miessau, Daniel Goodfriend and Janna (William) McMahon; 7 great grandchildren, Allison (Sean) Valley, Michael (Kristina) Sharkevich, Amanda (Crockett) Chabin, Troy Miessau, Gabrielle, Dylan and Bradley McMahon and 4 great-great grandchildren Caitlyn and Hailey Valley, John Chabin and Rylan Sharkevich. He is also survived by his brother Leroy Eckert. Mr. Eckert was pre-deceased by his cherished great grandson Eric Ocoma Miessau and his brothers Clinton and Lawrence Eckert. Friends may visit from 4:00 – 7:00pm on Sunday, December 6th at the Dorsey-E. Earl Smith Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00am on Monday, December 7th at the Boynton Beach Mausoleum Chapel, 1611 So. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33435. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are requested to www.waterforsmallvillages.org.