Gretchen Marie Wilson Eckard

Gretchen Marie (Wilson) Eckard, 72, of Tallahassee, FL joined the church triumphant on Monday, February 5th, 2018. She is survived by her three children, Grant(Michelle) of Woodstock, GA, Alicia Cook(Jim) of Fort Mill, SC, and Lauren of Tallahassee, FL, and her three grandchildren, Oz and Chase Eckard, and Nora Cook. She is also survived by her siblings, Mrs. Dewey Gant(Susanna) of Arlington, OH, Dexter Wilson(Eileen) of Hilliard, OH, Betsy Frater(Randall) of San Diego, CA, Janet Carey(Tom) of Arlington, OH, Rev. Kent Wilson(Colleen) of Jenera, OH, and many other relatives. She is predeceased by her husband, Rev. O. R. “Rick” Eckard, Jr., her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Luther Wilson of rural OH, her in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Osborne Eckard, Sr. of Conover, NC, and her brother, Dewey Gant of Arlington, OH. Gretchen was nurtured, baptized, and confirmed in the Christian faith at St. Paul Lutheran Church in rural Jenera, OH. She grew up on the farm, graduated from Arlington High School, and attended Patricia Stevens Career College. She met her future husband at Clinton Heights Lutheran Church in Columbus, OH. She and Rick married in 1971 and they spent his internship year at Grace Lutheran Church in Miami Springs, FL. The remainder of their 42 years of married life was spent in Melbourne Beach and Tallahassee, FL where she was involved with Grace Lutheran Church in both cities. Gretchen was such an important part of the service that Grace Lutheran Church provided, serving as church organist, voluntarily at first, for many years. She was a children's choir director, VBS teacher, chime choir director, and held so many other untitled, but no less important, positions in the church. Though the most important position to Gretchen was being a loving mother, wife, and support for the Pastor and congregation in service to Christ. Christian music played a special role in her life. She loved her family and home. She collected smiles like her father. A service of remembrance will be held Saturday, February 10th, at 3pm, preceded by visitation at 2pm at Grace Lutheran Church in Tallahassee. She will be laid to rest at Roselawn Cemetery in Tallahassee. Gifts in memory of Gretchen can be made to Grace Lutheran Church's Sunday School/VBS Fund or Seminary Student Fund, 2919 Miccosukee Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Kelly Barber of Bevis Funeral Home in Tallahassee (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the Eckard family with their arrangements.

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Gretchen Marie Wilson Eckard

March 2, 1945 - February 5, 2018