John G. Eckerd, Sr.

John G. Eckerd, Sr. of Ephrata passed away on Wednesday February 5, 2025. He was 86 years old. He was born in New Bloomfield, Perry County, Pennsylvania on August 20, 1938 to George Hiram Eckerd, and Carrie Isabel (Wise) Eckerd. John was number 3, in a family of 5 children. He graduated from Donegal High School in 1956. He moved to Rowena, (Marietta) Pennsylvania to live next to his parents when they moved there from New Bloomfield.

He married Mary Lou (Bearfield) Eckerd on December 18, 1987 and they spent 37 years together. Mary Lou took amazing care of John after he had suffered several strokes and then developed dementia. She never left his side even when he required full time nursing care in Neffsville, and the love they shared was admired by all who knew them.

John was a skilled gymnast when he was in high school, and still had parallel bars in the backyard of his home. Well into his 60’s he could still master a few tricks on the bars! John had been a union ironworker, who helped to build the towers on Three Mile Island, and he worked on both Columbia bridges. He was a maintenance supervisor at several feed mills, and a mechanic at Mount Joy Wire. He was a kind and giving man who would help anyone he could with car or home repairs. He loved gardening, boating, going to the beach, crabbing, bike riding, and most importantly sharing his love of the Bible with all he met. Oh and not to be overlooked, he was a very competitive card player!! He would make you think he was losing, then ace the game!

John was a member of the Ephrata Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He had the hope of the resurrection foretold by Christ Jesus at John 11:25, and faith in the promise held out at Revelation 21:3, 4. 

He was preceded in death by his eldest brother, Tom Eckerd (wife Pearl) of Enola, eldest sister Rosemary Horrocks of Jonestown, and his first wife and mother of his children, Darlene (Stoy) Eckerd of Lancaster.

He is survived by his younger brother Walter Eckerd, Sr. (wife Thelma) of Elizabethtown, and Eileen Trout (husband Bill) of New Bloomfield. His eldest son, John G. Eckerd, Jr. (wife Cindy) of East Petersburg, Julia C. Langsett (husband Chris) of Crisfield, MD and his youngest son Shayne A. Eckerd (wife Niki) of Northern Michigan, his stepson Tom Mottershead of Palmyra, stepdaughter Pam Fitzsimmons (husband Sean) of Dinwiddle, Virginia, and stepson Jim Mottershead (wife Cherish) of Ephrata. His grandchildren, Aubrey R. Mueller (husband Sascha) of Crisfield, Maryland, Caitlin Compton (husband Clint) of Hickory, North Carolina, Brittany Mottershead of Pittsburgh, Noelani Mottershead of Henderson, NV, Kawika Mottershead of Ephrata, Joanne Gelsinger (husband Chris) of Womelsdorf, Jenalee Eckerd of Brickerville, Brittany Valley of Searcy, Arkansas, Darius Eckerd of Michigan, and Daysha Eckerd of Port Allegheny, PA. Great grandchildren, Paige Gelsinger, Jasmine Grubric, Bradley Kennedy, Rileigh Compton, Jeremiah Compton, Charlotte Hare, Emilie Mueller, Veronica Volk, Zach Mueller, Aiden Brown, Aleya Brown, and Benjamin Valley, and many other cousins, nieces, nephews and two great great granddaughters, Raelynn and Willow Grubric. Funeral services to be announced at a later date.