William Anthony Eccher

William “Bill” Anthony Eccher, 88, entered into eternal rest on July 23, 2025, in Marietta, Georgia.

Bill was born in Liberal, Missouri, on March 7, 1937, to Edward Eccher and Dixie Emma Fast Eccher. He graduated from Liberal High School in 1955.

Bill met the love of his life, Martha Irene Eccher, at a dance when she unknowingly sat in his chair. Upon returning to his seat, he asked whether she was going to move or if he was going to have to sit in her lap. The latter choice won her over, and the rest was history.

After marrying on November 27, 1963, Bill and Martha attended and graduated from Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, in 1966. Bill and Martha were devout Catholics, and lived their lives guided by faith and family.

Bill began his career in Malvern, Iowa in quality control at Henningsen Foods. He and Martha later moved to Walton County, Georgia, and lived in both Monroe and Social Circle, where Bill took a position as a plant manager at National Egg Products, NEPCO. Here, they raised their children, Amy Eccher Hearn (John) of Marietta and Tim Anthony Eccher (Ann Holliday) of LaGrange, Texas.

Bill and Martha later relocated to Topeka, Kansas, where Bill worked for Seymour, an egg-breaking machine builder. His work took him across the country, until he was asked in 1993 to serve as general manager of Classic Egg in Neosho, Missouri. There, he had the joy of working alongside his son, Tim, until his retirement in 2006.

In retirement, Bill and Martha split their time between Cumming, Georgia, and Green Valley, Arizona. Their days began with morning hikes in Madera Canyon and were filled with birding and a shared love of the outdoors.

Bill was preceded in death in 2022 by his beloved wife of 59 years, Martha Irene. He was also preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Warren Eccher, Rose Eccher Kopriva, and Dixie Mae Eccher Keltner.

He is survived by Amy and John and their children, Darden Elizabeth, Christian Reiley, and William Aaron Hearn, as well as Tim and Ann and their children, Reiley Ann Eccher and Emma Rose Seitter (Kessler). They called him “Grandpa.”

Bill created some of his family’s most cherished memories at Table Rock Lake in Missouri, where he taught his grandchildren how to drive the golf cart, boat, and ride four-wheelers. With patience, he walked behind their wobbly bikes, shared lessons on skipping rocks, and looked back from the boat to make sure they were safe and smiling. He built welcome signs in his workshop when Reiley and Emma were anxious about moving to Texas and let them help, turning hard moments into special ones.

Bill was a gentle, unassuming man with a sly sense of humor. He had a heart for all living creatures, whether it was a spider, a snake, or a mean cat. His bird feeders were always full, and there wasn’t a bird he couldn’t name. He loved eating "Tex Mex" huevos rancheros with Darden, walking along the Chattahoochee River with Christian, and watching college football games and old western movies with his “favorite” (and only) grandson, Will. He treasured time spent with his children and grandchildren. But above all, he loved his Martha. The family takes comfort in knowing they are reunited in heaven with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

A funeral Mass will be held on August 9, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. at St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church, located at 4633 Shiloh Rd, Cumming, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the non-profit of Bill and Martha’s favorite hiking trails:

Friends of Madera Canyon

In Memory of William A. Eccher

P.O. Box 1203

Green Valley, AZ 85622

Email: Info@friendsofmaderacanyon.org