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Thomas W. Eckert
January 14, 1933 – March 27, 2022
Thomas W. Eckert died peacefully at his home under the care of his family, Avalon Hospice, and Uplands Village CarePartners, Pleasant Hill Tennessee. He graduated from Heidelberg University Tiffin OH and Eden Theological Seminary Webster Groves MO. He had served in parish ministry since his ordination on June 14, 1959 in churches in Cincinnati OH, Louisville KY, Grand Rapids MI, Hamilton OH, Fairfield Glade TN, and Cookeville TN, all with the United Church of Christ.
With that denomination, he served on stewardship education programs, mission interpretation, restructuring and long-range planning committees on Conference Boards, and represented the United Church Board for World Ministries in India and Nepal. In the posture of reaching out to the community and beyond, Tom encouraged people to be involved in work camps both locally and in Mexico and with Habitat for Humanity. At Uplands Village he served on the Governance and Nominating Committee a number of years working with the Uplands Board of Directors.
Upon retirement at Uplands Village, Pleasant Hill TN, in 1995, he was taught watercolor painting by a resident master painter and became involved with the Art Guild at Fairfield Glade and the Crossville Art Council. He taught classes and participated in many exhibits and festivals: his painting of his granddad’s championship game horseshoes hangs in the permanent collection at the Art Circle Public Library, Crossville TN. He proudly attained the status of Signature Member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society.
Throughout his life, Tom was involved with singing organizations: a charter member of the Dayton Rotary Boy Choir, the Heidelberg (College) Concert Choir, the Eden Seminary Chancel Choir, the acclaimed Louisville Thoroughbreds Barbershop Chorus and the Cumberland County Community Chorus.
Tom is survived by his wife, Sharron Eckert at Uplands Village Pleasant Hill TN, daughters Kathy (David) Goulooze in Jackson TN, Linda (John) Moser in Louisville KY, son-in-love Mark (Kala) Steedly in Mason OH, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Charles Bud (Diane) Schroeder Naples FL, nieces and nephews in Florida and Texas.
Tom’s body has been donated to Genesis Legacy Medical Educational Research, Memphis TN. A Memorial Service is scheduled Friday, August 12, 2022, at 1:00 pm CDT at the Pleasant Hill Community Church, TN.
