Landen Eckard Passes Away
Friday, April 19, 2013
Landen Pinkney Eckard, son of the late Lewis Pinkney and Pearl Bollinger Eckard, born January 28, 1925, died Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at his Drowning Creek Farm in Hildebran, NC. Mr. Eckard served in the Navy during WWII and returned to Hickory and married Pauline Reid of Granite Falls. He retired from a career in sales with Maple Springs Laundry and land development, but is best known for his support to the American Saddlebred Horse and Hackney Pony industry. After purchasing Drowning Creek Farm in 1956, he and his children, Lana Eckard Ray, Lewis Pinkney Eckard, II and Sheila Eckard Lail developed the farm into the largest Saddlebred Horse farm in Western NC and one of the most prominent show barns in the United States with over forty World Championships. In 2002, he and wife, Pauline, were inducted into the NC Horseman's Hall of Fame in Raleigh, NC.
Mr. Eckard is survived by his wife of 68 years, three children and four grandchildren, Gina Lail, Heather Lail, George Ray and Charles Ray.
A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at St. Andrews Lutheran Church with the Pastor Richard Fritz officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends on Friday, April 19, 2013 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Drum Funeral Home in Hickory.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 629 8th Street NE, Hickory, NC 28601 or American Diabetes Association, 222 South Church Street, Suite 336M, Charlotte, NC 28202.
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