Jennie Ellen Eckhardt

On January 12, 2016, Jennie Ellen Eckhardt peacefully went to be with her Lord at the age of 87. Formerly of Zoarville, Ohio she was most currently residing at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.

Born in Midvale, Ohio on October 29, 1928, Jennie was predeceased by the love of her life, husband, Oscar W. Eckhardt; her parents, Earl “Finney” Ohler and LuLu “Blanche” Tuttle; and brother, John A Ohler.

After graduating in 1946 from Midvale High School, Jennie and Oscar married on September 6, 1946. Shortly thereafter they moved to Zoarville, Ohio where they raised their two daughters; Christine and Deborah. Jennie was a member of the Good Hope Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school for several years. Jennie retired from the US Postal Office in 1988 after 21 years of service working in Zoarville, Strasburg, Mineral City and Zoar offices.

In 1997 she moved to Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia to be near her daughter, Deborah. After declining health in 2013 she found a new home and extended family within the South Roanoke Nursing Home.

Jennie is survived by two daughters; Mrs. Christine (H. Randall) West, Port Washington, Mrs. Deborah (Gary) Leatherman, Smith Mountain Lake, Va. Two grandchildren; Troy (Renee Penrod) West, of Dover and Tiffany Lynn West of Providence, Rhode Island, two great-grandchildren; Kaitlyn and Brock West and a special friend; Marcella Leatherman of Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.

Private family services will be held with burial to take place in Fort Laurens Cemetery at Bolivar. The Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions in Jennie’s name may be directed to The American Heart Association or to a local Humane Society.