Mrs. Rita Eckels, 91 of Carmel, Indiana, passed away Friday, August 7, 2015, at Manor Care of Summer Trace.
Rita was born in Harvey, Illinois, on March 3, 1924, the daughter of Elmond and Ruth C. (Lawrence) Cantrell, and step-daughter of Leonard L. Lewis.
On November 6, 1975, in Indianapolis, Indiana, she married Thornton C. “Tom” Eckels.
Mrs. Eckels was a member of the Episcopal Church. She is a retired Management Analyst with the U.S. Department of Army with 27 years of service. She served in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII stationed at U.S. Marine Corps Headquarters, Washington, D.C. She was an officer of Florida Chapter 6, Women Marine Association, a member of the American Legion Post #0159, Venice, Florida, and a charter member of Women in Military Service for America (WIMSA).
She is survived by her husband, great niece, Suzanne Glesing; nephew, Larry Wilson; great nephews, Mark and Kern Wilson; and special friends, Beth and Bryan Courtney, and Marty Rudolph.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her stepfather, her son, Kevin Anthony Burton; and her sister, Juanita Wilson.
Graveside service will be at Riverview Cemetery, Seymour, Indiana on Friday, August 14, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. with full military graveside rites conducted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1925, American Legion Post #89, Disabled American Veterans #47 and Korean and Vietnam Veterans #7, all of Seymour.
Memorial checks may be written to the Wounded Warrior Project through Voss & Sons Funeral Service.
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