Vera M Eckhart

YORK-Vera Marie (Eisensmith) Eckhart, 100, died on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at Senior Commons on Powder Mill. Vera was born on August 25, 1917 in Red Lion, PA, the daughter of the late Harry and Ethel (Overlander) Eisensmith. Vera was very active at Red Lion High School, participating in school plays, musicals, and various sports. She continued singing, dancing, and acting with numerous local theatre groups, often playing the lead role. She appeared in a movie that was filmed in Red Lion and was shown at the local movie theatre. During WWII she became a nurse’s aide at York Hospital, helped found the Red Lion chapter of the American Red Cross, and worked as medical auxiliary with the emergency department. She worked at the local Army Observation Post as a trained aircraft observer. In 1943, Vera was nationally recognized for her WWII efforts and was awarded the Mademoiselle Victory Award for Practical Patriotism by Mademoiselle magazine. She was an enthusiastic hard worker and called a “pocket edition dynamo” for the energy she expended on war efforts. In the 1940s, she left Red Lion and moved to Hollywood and landed a job as the personal secretary to the Musical Director of NBC. She had the privilege of meeting various movie stars such as Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Roy Rogers, among others. She married Donald J. Eckhart in 1948. They were married for 11 years and had four children: Tina, Lisa, Todd, and Dede. Vera moved back to Red Lion in 1957 and began her life as a single mother to her four children. She worked as an accountant for General Motors, often working additional jobs to make ends meet as a single mother. In her retirement, she moved in with her parents to care for both of them in their old age. She was a very devoted daughter and mother. She took great care of her health into her elderly years, taking long walks and often stating that dancing was the best form of exercise. She lived alone until the age of 98, when she developed dementia and moved into assisted living. She continued to be known as a lively and joyful woman by everyone around her. Vera is most beloved for being a joyful woman. She was a devoted follower of Jesus and loved to study Scripture and to pray and encourage those around her. Her life was marked by how deeply she sacrificed herself and her own needs for the sake of those around her. Vera cared deeply for her family and is survived by four children, Christina Mewhinney and husband James of Dallas, TX; Lisa Eckhart of Rohnert Park, CA; Todd Eckhart and wife Jody of Red Lion, PA; Deidra Goldman and husband Michael of Clifton, VA; grandchildren Megan Smale and husband Patrick of Dallas, TX; Rachel Goulet and husband Brian of Glen Allen, VA; Rebekah Hoyt and husband Matthew of Fairfax, VA; Josiah Eckhart and wife Barbara of Lake Forest, CA; Alyssa Eckhart of Red Lion, PA; great-grandchildren Ellie Smale, Joseph Goulet, Ellie Goulet, Margaret Smale, Natalie Hoyt, Lily Rose Smale, and Jacob Hoyt. She was predeceased by her brother Robert Eisensmith, her sister Mae Eisensmith, and her brother Preston Eisensmith. A visitation will take place at 2pm on Saturday, January 20 at Grace Lutheran Church, 220 N Charles St, Red Lion, PA 17356. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 3pm. Life Tributes by Olewiler & Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc. 35 Gotham Place in Red Lion is assisting the family with the arrangements.