George L. Eckert, Jr., 95, of Monongahela, died Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the Residence at Hilltop in Carroll Township. He was born July 28, 1926, in Monongahela, son of George L. Eckert Sr. and Agnes Laughlin Eckert. George was educated in the Monongahela School District and graduated with the Ringgold High School Veterans Program. In 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Four years later, he enlisted in the Army National Guard, and later re-enlisted in the U.S. Army, Company A 110th Infantry 28th Division. He then transferred to the 110th Regimental Headquarters, where he was a cook at the Officers’ Mess Hall and later to the 50 15th Medical Detachment U.S. 5th Army. He was honorably discharged in 1952. George was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church in Monongahela. He was a layout man by trade and was formerly employed by Combustion Engineering in East Monongahela. George was also employed at Electro Air in McKees Rocks and Smith Machine in Eighty Four. He retired in 1989 from the Washington County Voter Registration Office. He was a charter member of the Sons of the American Legion where he was a member of Post 302 Firing Squad and the Drum and Bugle Corps in the 1930s-40s. He was a member of the American Legion Frank Downer Post 302 in Monongahela, where he was a past commander for seven years. George was a current member and Judge Advocate of the Carroll Legion James C. Ford Post 949. He had continuous membership in the American Legion for the past 78 years. He was a Deputy Commander in the American Legion 25th District and past commander for Washington and Greene counties. In 1978, he joined 40/8 Voiture Locale 676 in Washington County. Over the years, he held the positions of Chef de Gare, South West District Cheminot, Grand Chef de Train of Pennsylvania, Cheminot Nationale, Grand Chef de Gare of Pennsylvania, and Voiture Nationale Sous Director of Public Relations. He was a member of the Washington County Veterans Advisory Council, Monongahela Veterans Council, and Democratic State Committee in Harrisburg for Washington County. George was also a former member of the Monongahela Cemetery Board. He is survived by two sons, George I. Eckert and wife Nancy (Kovalak) of Carroll Township, and Alton B. Eckert and wife Bong Yo of Apollo; five grandchildren, George P. Eckert, Leia Heritage and husband Samuel, Donna Tweedle, Sherry Witt and husband Keith, Susan Eckert; seven great-grandchildren, Amelia, Eleanor and Edith Heritage, Emma and Grant Tweedle and Sylvia and Evelyn Witt; and two nieces, Leona Jeffries and Nola Elliott. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Aldene Johnston Eckert, who died Feb. 21, 2005. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 26, 2022, at FRYE FUNERAL HOME, 427 W. Main St., Monongahela. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 27, 2022, at First United Methodist Church in Monongahela with the Rev. Jude Urso officiating. Interment will follow in the Monongahela Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Mon Valley Honor Guard and Firing Squad. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Monongahela Veterans Council, 528 Long Drive, New Eagle, PA, 15067. Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at www.fryefuneralhome.com.
