Thornwell Clayton Eckels

Mr. Thornwell Clayton “Tom” Eckels, 93 of Carmel, Indiana, passed away Tuesday, September 1, 2015, at Manor Care of Summer Trace.

Tom was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on May 5, 1922, the son of the late Robert C. and Sarah Isabelle Brissenden Eckels.

On November 6, 1975, in Indianapolis, Indiana, he married Rita Burton who preceded him in death on August 7, 2015.

Tom retired as Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager, Optical Departments, Montgomery-Ward stores in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbus in 1982. He served as Chief Pharmacist Mate in the U.S. Navy during WWII; assigned combat medic with the fourth Marine Division on Saipan and Iwo Jima. He was with the second wave of the first day on Iwo Jima and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He also served as HMC, V-6, U.S. Navy Reserve, until his discharge in 1952. He was a member of the VFW, Post #8118, Venice, Florida.

He is survived by his daughter, Deborah Anderson, grandsons, Eric Anderson, Chris Anderson, and Robbie Anderson; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, and parents.

Graveside service will be at Riverview Cemetery, Seymour, Indiana on Friday, September 4, 2015, at 10:00 a.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.