William "Bill" Everett Eckelberry

William "Bill" Everett Eckelberry, age 87, passed away on December 15,2024 in Dayton, Ohio. Born on September 20, 1937, in Cambridge, Ohio, to Vera (Devore) and Everett Eckelberry, Bill lived a life full of dedication, adventure, and love.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife of many years, Shirley (Diss), and their four children: Christie Coughlin (Michael) of State College, Pennsylvania, Karen Bartel (Raymond) of Pembroke, New Hampshire, John Eckelberry (Heather) of Kettering, Ohio, and David Eckelberry (Inga) of Greystones, Ireland. He was a proud grandfather to eleven grandchildren: Katherine Faulds (Matthew), Brenna Eckelberry, Cole Eckelberry (Mia), Johanna Coughlin, Tricia Simpson (Matthew), William Coughlin, Samantha Bartel, Keelin Martin, Neil Eckelberry, Christopher Eckelberry, and Victoria Eckelberry. Bill’s legacy also includes four great-grandchildren: Everett, Eloise, and George Faulds; and Elias Simpson.

He is survived by his sister, Janet Cochran, and his brothers, Robert Eckelberry (Terry) and Carl Randall Eckelberry (Barbara). Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Vera and Everett, his son William James Eckelberry, his brother James Richard Eckelberry, his sister-in-law Marjorie (Reitler) Eckelberry, and brother-in-law Ronald Cochran.

Bill graduated from Cambridge High School in 1955 and pursued his education at Ohio State University. As a chemical engineer, he began his career in the steel industry with Foote Mineral Company in Cambridge, Ohio, and Exton, Pennsylvania. Later, he joined Pfizer Corporation, where his work took him to Wallingford, Connecticut, and Atlanta, Georgia. After retiring in 1999, Bill moved to Summerville, South Carolina, where he embraced his love for golf, achieving a memorable hole-in-one on the 15th hole of the Legend Oaks course.

In retirement, Bill and Shirley enjoyed traveling the world and cherished their time with family. His life was marked by warmth, curiosity, and a steadfast devotion to those he loved.

A family memorial service is planned later this year in Cambridge, Ohio, to celebrate Bill’s life.