John Phillip Eckerd

July 21, 1932 - January 23, 2018

John P. Eckerd, 85 of Windsor Locks, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at St. Francis Hospital. John was born on July 21, 1932 in Tarrytown, NY to the late Edgar and Matilda Eckerd. He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth E. Eckerd in August, 2017. Anyone who knew John knew he was a kind, gentle, honorable man. He served in the Armed Forces for eight years. On June of 1953 he completed a course of Electrician at the Sixth Armored Division, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Private First Class John P. Eckerd served overseas in Korea and was honorably discharged October 31, 1960. For thirty five years, John devoted his skills as an electrician to the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Group in East Hartford where he raised his family. John could fix anything. He loved to cook, garden and he loved animals. He was an active member of the First Congregational Church in East Hartford for years. John is survived by a daughter, Rae Eiklor and her husband Michael of Burbank, CA, his stepson, Bruce Brettschneider and his wife Sharon of Steuben, Maine, a daughter and her husband, Vicki and Tad Chamberlain of Granby, CT, and his cherished grandchildren, Ryan Eiklor, and Neil Eiklor, Elizabeth Brettschneider (husband Mark Uhlemann), Nathan Brettschneider, and Jason Chamberlain. A graveside burial will be held in Rose Hill Memorial Park, 580 Elm Street, Rocky Hill on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. for friends and family. Donations in John’s name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS. 66675. For online guestbook, please visit www.rosehillfuneralhomes.com.