Bruce Lee Eckhart

Bruce Lee Eckhart, age 80, of Alliance, passed away April 5, 2017, at Hope Hospice in Fort Myers, Florida, after a sudden illness.
He was born April 28, 1936, in Alliance, Ohio, to Clifford F. and Wava I. (Bailey) Eckhart.
Bruce was a 1954 graduate of Sebring McKinley High School, where he focused on excellence in both sports and academics.
His primary career achievements began in attaining the level of journeyman machinist, at the E.W. Bliss Company in Salem, Ohio. Application of this master craft plus significant further education culminated in his promotion to manager of the machine shop and CNC programming and engineering department at the same Bliss Company, from which he retired.
Though busy in his professional career, Bruce carved out time to help form and lead Boy Scout Troop 156 in the Maple Ridge School area. He also drove school bus for the West Branch Schools, and owned and ran the Meadowbrook Delicatessan in Alliance, Ohio.
He was an avid and skilled restorer of antiques cars. He loved participating in cruise-ins and shows and his cars have earned many medals and trophies.
He was a veteran of the United States Marines.
He was a past member of the Beloit Ruritan Club and a recent member of the Mens Breakfast Club at Thunderbird Park in Florida as a seasonal resident.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy L. (Ernest) Eckhart of Alliance; children, Bruce Jr. (Diane) Eckhart of Lisbon, Clifford F. Eckhart of Green, and Michelle (Dan) Peterson of Beloit; sister, Carol (Clyde) Frederick of Alliance; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and step-children, Karen Tanner of Sebring, Laura (Doug) Rutzky of Powell, Ohio and Dr. William Tanner of Mayer, Arizona.
In addition to his parents, Bruce was preceded in death by former wife, Selma Westover.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home with Pastor Nick Lindsay officiating. Friends may call from 1 to 3 p.m., prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Hospice 9470 Healthpark Circle, Ft. Myers, Florida 33908 or to the charity of the donor's choice. "He will be loved and remembered always."
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave. Alliance, Ohio 44601.