Allen W. Eckel

Allen Wilbert Eckel, 93, of Cambridge, passed away on Sunday, May 29, 2011, at Mallard Bay Care Center. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Estelle Kuhn Eckel, who passed away on November 18, 2004. Mr. Eckel was born in Pittsburgh, PA and was one of four sons of Joseph Cordes Eckel. He was preceded in death by two older brothers, John Eckel and Robert Eckel. Mr. Eckel's family came to Dorchester County when they bought a farm known as Kilmaurie in Cornersville in the Neck District in 1937. Mr. Eckel was an athlete, a singer and a dancer in his youth. He graduated from Crafton High School in Pittsburgh, Massanutten Military Academy in Staunton, VA, and from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh in 1939 with a B.A. in Industrial Engineering. While at Duquesne he played college football as a linebacker and also played for Art Rooney's farm team for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mr. Eckel studied agriculture at the University of Maryland at College Park and graduated from the Mt. Vernon School of Law (now the University Of Baltimore School Of Law) with a Bachelor of Laws Degree in 1961. He retired in 1977 as the Director of Personnel at the Eastern Shore State Hospital in Cambridge after serving as personnel director for over 25 years and assisted in the modernization of the hospital and the integration of its patients and employees. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean conflict, serving as an officer in the US Army as a Ranger and later the Air Force where he oversaw procurement. He also participated in many cross-country and Alaska Territory missions designed to support combat operations in Korea and to enhance US home front defenses. Mr. Eckel was honorably discharged from military service in 1945 and accepted a supervisor position with Calumet City Steel Company outside of Chicago. He was active in Democratic Party politics during his lifetime and held memberships in the VFW and the Cambridge American Legion. He was an avid golfer and learned to play the game at age 8 in Pittsburgh. He was a long-time member of the Cambridge Country Club (now Clearview at Horn's Point) and helped improve the golf course from its earliest days. He later served as the president of the CCC from 1978 to 1980. On his 72nd birthday, Mr. Eckel shot his age on the golf course and made his only hole-in-one, which was recognized by Golf Digest Magazine. He played his last round of golf at the age of 91. Mr. Eckel is survived by his son, attorney Grason John-Allen Eckel of Cambridge, by his daughter, Linnet (Eckel) Fritz and son-in-law Robert Fritz of Brecksville, Ohio, grandson Allen Fritz and his wife and children, Allison and Jamison Fritz of Broadview Heights, Ohio, his brother Frank Eckel of Beaufort, South Carolina, his niece, Jan (Eckel) Griffin of Locust Grove, Virginia, and his nephew Tom Kuhn of Cambridge. Mr. Eckel will be interned at Cambridge Cemetery next to his wife Marie on June 20, 2011 at 1:00 PM, his 94th birthday. Arrangements are being handled by the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the USO.