Margie Magdalene Eckert, quick-witted, kindhearted
Margie Magdalene (Blankenbeckler) Eckert of Lewes turned 96 just five days before going to be with the Lord Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. She was born Dec. 6, 1925, in Akron, Ohio, to Rightly and Lula (Harris) Blankenbeckler.
After graduating from South High in Akron, Margie traveled for Neisner’s Five and Dime helping set up new stores. It was during the establishment of the Washington, D.C. store that “Blondie” met Joseph Lawrence Eckert, whom she married Feb. 3, 1949.
Margie created a home full of love and fun for Joe and their three children, Patti, Debbie and Larry in Wheaton, Md. Later, she worked in telemarketing. Regular weekend visits to Lewes began for Margie and Joe in 1976, and they retired there in 1987. Although widowed after 41 years of marriage, Margie chose to continue living an active lifestyle, traveling with friends, volunteering at the Beebe Medical Foundation, swimming at the Y, and participating in painting classes at the Cape Henlopen Senior Center. Her beautiful watercolor paintings that hang in the homes of family and friends even won some Delaware State Fair ribbons! Regular trips to Maryland to visit her children and seven grandchildren served to deepen and endear those relationships. Nana was delighted to attend their countless sporting events and activities, and even accompanied one grandson on a Mexico mission trip at his request! Her family continued to grow, and she was blessed with 17 great-grandchildren whom she dearly loved. In fact, when she claimed to family members, “I love you more than you love me,” each secretly knew she probably did “win” as the love that poured through her had its source in her Savior. Margie’s quick wit, sense of humor, kind heart, open arms, listening ear, encouraging words, and gentle, loving ways earned her many friends, both young and old, and far and wide.
Margie is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Lawrence Eckert, and brother-in-law, Leonard Eckert. She is survived by her daughter, Patti Haynie (Jim), her daughter, Debbie Bragdon (Pat), and her son, Larry Eckert (Cathy); grandsons, Jeff Haynie (Ashley), Bryan Haynie (Katie), Chris Eckert (Shannon), Navy Commander Mike Eckert, and Kevin Bragdon (Kristina); granddaughters, Missy Haynie (George) and Caitlin Larrimore (Jake); great-grandchildren, Connor Haynie, Ethan Haynie, Lily Haynie, Reed Haynie, Rachel Haynie, Olivia Haynie, Jacob Smith, Hailey Smith, Lucas Smith, Layla Epps, Eva Epps, Nicholas Haynie, Caleb Haynie, Hazel Bragdon, Quinn Baxter, Austin Eckert, and Hannah Tregoning; sister-in-law, Edna Eckert; niece, Christine DeMaio (Dorian); and great-niece, Lauren DeMaio.
Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 15, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 9 a.m. Interment will be at 1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 16, at Parklawn Memorial Park, Rockville, Md.
Livestream of the services on Wednesday will also be available by visiting webcasts.lifetributes.com/1180913.
The family kindly asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Margie’s name to the Children’s Hunger Fund, ChildrensHungerFund.org.
Mask wearing is required and social distancing must be observed by all service attendees and participants.
