Ruth L. (Markey) Eckert

NEW OXFORD Ruth L. (Markey) Eckert, 89, formerly of Dallastown, passed away Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at Cross Keys Village The Brethren Home Community. She was the wife of Edward C. Eckert to whom she was married for 67 years.A celebration of life tribute service will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, April 10, 2011 at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Road, York with her pastor, The Rev. A. Mervyn Wunderlich officiating. A viewing will be held from 12:30 2:00 PM Sunday at the Funeral Chapel. Burial will be held at Stumps Union Cemetery, York Township.Born June 12, 1921 in York Township, a daughter of the late Michael M. and Veartie N. (Glatfelter) Markey, she attended Jessops one room schoolhouse. Ruth worked on the family farm for several years before attending nurses training at the Westside Sanitarium, from where she graduated as a practical nurse in 1941. She worked at various doctor offices, nursing homes, and provided private duty nursing care in the York and Dallastown areas for forty years. Mrs. Eckert also served as Head Cook at Dallastown Elementary School. Ruth was active with the Dallastown Elementary School PTA and the Dallastown Business and Professional Womens Organization. In addition, she served as a den mother with Boy Scouts of America Troop 43 in Dallastown, and was a member of the Cheerful Stitchers Sewing Club. She was a member of Faith Community at the Brethren Home in New Oxford and was a former member of Codorus Church of the Brethren, where she actively served as a deaconess and on the kitchen committee.In addition to her husband, Mrs. Eckert is survived by a daughter, Cindy E. and husband Marlyn Bacon of Red Lion; a daughter in law, Pamela A. Eckert of Dallastown; five grandchildren, Michael, Matthew, and Todd Eckert, Jeston Bowman, and Caryn Ellis; a step-granddaughter, Melanie Porter; nine great grandchildren; two step-great grandchildren; and two sisters, Esther Newcomer of Jacobus and Evelyn Chronister of York. She was preceded in death by a son, Thomas E. Eckert; a step-grandson, Derek A. Bacon; five sisters, Mazie Lehman, Mary Yost, Elsie Reber, Alverta Rabenstine, and Naomi Marteny; and seven brothers, Paul, Walter, David, Lester, Wilfred, Raymond, and C. Edward Markey.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heifer Project International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203 or to a favorite charity.