Robert "Bobby" Edwin Eckert

Our beloved Bobby Eckert, was born March 14, 1927, to Otto and Isla Eckert. The younger of their two boys, he attended Santa Rita Elementary School, and San Angelo Junior and Senior high schools before graduating as senior valedictorian in 1944. He then entered Rice University where he was the freshman class president. In September 1946, he contracted polio and was unable to continue for approximately one year. He reentered in Rice in 1947 and graduated in 1950. During his college years he worked summers for local accountant, Hunter Cherry. Following graduation from Rice, he pursued postgraduate studies in accounting at the University of Texas. In 1951 he began a formal accounting career that would span 45 years. In a tribute to his leadership and outstanding community reputation, the CPA firm he joined in 1951, came to be called "Eckert & Company," honoring his retirement in 1996. Bobby Eckert and Patsy Baker wed in November of 1952. Their family would include three daughters, Lyn, Cathy and Lee. A devoted family man, Bobby was also active in civic affairs. Starting as audit committee chair for the United Way in 1968, he also held positions with the local Chapter of CPAs, the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, The Kiwanis Club and the San Angelo Board of City Development. In 1983, he was appointed Trustee of the Shannon West Memorial Hospital where he served for 26 years, and where he passed away following a short exacerbation of a lifelong struggle with post polio syndrome. Until his passing on March 5, he was gratified to be the second longest member of the First United Methodist Church where he had also once served as church treasurer. Bobby took special interest in his daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, mentoring them at different times in hunting, bird watching, sailing, tennis, hiking, and even sail plane gliding. He is remembered as a fine role model with a wonderful sense of humor, a generous and kind spirit, and faultless father figure. Bobby and Patsy's youngest daughter, Lee preceded him in death following an accident in 2000. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Patsy Eckert; daughters Lyn Hills and Cathy Bruff, sons-in-law James (Buzzy) Woodworth and David Hills; granddaughters Caroline and Sarah Lyn Bruff, Maddie Woodworth; grandsons Liston Hills, Robert Bruff and Jack Woodworth; and great-grandchildren Molly and Jillian Hills. A celebration service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Mark Deaton officiating and Eulogy by his grandson Liston Hills. Arrangements are by Johnson's Funeral Home. The Eckert, Hills, Bruff and Woodworth families extend their heartfelt thanks to the San Angelo community that has shown such love and support in our time of loss. Please direct any memorial donations to Shannon Hospital, The Nature Conservancy, Rice University or the First United Methodist Church of San Angelo. Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at johnsons-funeralhome.com.