Frank Warren Eichhorn

Frank Warren Eichhorn, 91, long-time resident of Stony Creek Mills, passed away on December 20, 2013 at the Berkshire Center in Exeter. He was the widower of Dorothy Golly Eichhorn, who died October 8, 1994. Born in The Bronx, New York he was the younger son of the late Louis Eichhorn and Nora Beatrice Harrigan Eichhorn and younger brother to George Gordon Eichhorn. Frank graduated from the Barnard School for Boys in New York City. He then attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. During his school and college career, he lettered in several sports and sang in the college glee club. In 1943, while he was still a student, he joined the United States Marine Corps. The Corps allowed him to finish his last year of college at Yale University before shipping him overseas to Guadalcanal as an acting Corporal. He was Honorably Discharged with a disability in April 1945 from St. Albans Naval Hospital on Long Island. By August 1945 he was working in Aruba for Standard Oil. After two years in the oil refineries he returned to the United States and found himself acting in a season of plays at Bolton Landing Playhouse near Lake George, New York. While performing in "The Man Who Came to Dinner" he met his future wife. They married in September 1948 and lived in Lake George until moving in 1952 to Westbury, Long Island, where Frank began his career in public relations with Western Electric. In 1958 the company moved him to Reading where he worked until he retired in 1985 after 33 years with the company.

Frank was passionate about history and books. He earned his Master's in Education from Temple University by taking advantage of a program from Western Electric. He was an expert on the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, the French and Indian War and Russian history. To add variety to his reading list he included works about Truman, Teddy Roosevelt, the Johnstown Flood, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, T.E. Lawrence and so on. He could read a book and bring it alive for others. He loved old movies and show tunes and big bands. One of his proudest moments was performing a recital last August at Elmcroft, where he was a resident. He adored Christmas and insisted that there always be a star at the top of the tree, "because that's what it's all about." He loved giving and receiving presents, and even when everyone was older he insisted on going down first to light the tree on Christmas day. He perpetuated the "Eichhorn Method of Tree Lighting and Decorating" taught to him by his father. He loved driving—anywhere. He loved mowing his neighbor's fields. He was grateful to his neighbors for looking out for him, especially when plowing the driveway became too difficult. Although a cradle Yankee fan who met Babe Ruth on an Easter vacation in Florida, Frank became an ardent Phillies supporter. His life was greatly enhanced when Veterans Affairs gave him hearing aids. Then, once again, he could hear music, and he sang at Christmas, around the house, and lying in bed trying to sleep. He loved his children, his grandchildren, and dogs, especially Maggie. He was gentle and unassuming. In his last months he was grateful to anyone who took time to see him. He loved the nurses and aides at Berkshire Center. The day he passed away he showed photographs from his camp days. "Mr. Eichhorn, you were always this skinny." He sang Christmas carols with his daughter. He was playful with an aide who was admiring his mock turtleneck: "You like this one. I've got a yellow and a burgundy one." He was looking forward to Christmas. He really had a wonderful life.

He is survived by his two step-daughters: Deborah L. Moudry and her husband, Mike, of Ephrata, PA and Melanie C. Racioppi of Warwick, RI He is also survived by his son, Stephen A. Eichhorn and his wife, Kathy, of Cranston, RI, his daughter, Lisa W. Eichhorn of Sunbury-on-Thames, UK and his son, Jeffrey L. Eichhorn and his wife, Karen, of Point Pleasant Beach, NJ In addition, he is survived by grandchildren: Jesse Eichhorn, Jeremy Eichhorn, Emily Rose Eichhorn Healy, Emily Alexandra Eichhorn-Nye, Justin Eichhorn and Brieanna Eichhorn and step-grandchildren: Timothy, Philip, Andrew, Melissa and Matthew Black and Wendy and Peter Crosby. He recently became great-grandfather to Owen Warren and Jasper and was step-great-grandfather to Sandra, Meghan, Catherine, Timothy, Bianca, Andrew, Jr., Maxwell, Lily, Nicole and Kayla. He is also survived by his nephew, William L. Eichhorn, his wife, Diana, and their daughter, Sarah Rose, of Beltsville, MD.

A memorial celebration of Frank's life will be held in the Spring of 2014. Notice will be given in the newspaper.

In lieu of flowers please send any contributions of remembrance to: Semper Fi Fund/ 825 College Blvd, suite102 – PMB609/ Oceanside, CA 92057 or Homes for Our Troops/ 6 Main St/ Taunton, MA 02780 www.hfotusa.org

Online condolences may be left at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com