McDONOUGH – Charles K. “Ken” Eccleston, 84, a long time resident of McDonough, passed away Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at the Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich.
Ken was born in December of 1923 in Taylor, the son of Charles and Leapha Lansdowne Eccleston. He grew up in the McDonough area and was a graduate of the Oxford schools. A mechanically gifted individual, Ken decided to further his education by attending aircraft mechanic school in Cortland. In order to do this he knew he would have to pay his own way which he did be boxing and wrestling. Finishing college as a civilian mechanic, Ken’s passion was to fly but because of physical limitations he was unable to fulfill his dream. Continuing on he took employment with GLA of Norwich where he worked for 18 years. Ken and his family moved to Florida where he remained for about 10 years before returning to the McDonough area where he continued to make his home. He worked for brief periods of time for state and county manpower, the Raymond Corp. and eventually gained employment with Chentronics in Norwich where he worked as a machinist retiring in 1988.
An awesome husband, dad, grandpa and great grandpa, Ken was known by his family and friends as the number one storyteller. He enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, eating mashed potatoes and drinking buttermilk. One of Ken’s favorite true stories was about an article written by his cousin for Readers Digest in which Ken and his wife Barb, the log home they lived in and the McDonough community were all written about.
Ken is survived by his wife Barb, who he married August 11, 1980, and his children and their spouses; Jennifer S. (John) Gause of Quincy, Fla., Peggy J. (Bill) Harrison of Rolla, MO., Diane (Howard) Gerdes of New Port Richey, Fla., Charles K. (Butch) (Tony) Eccleston of Lakeland, Fla., Kathy Eccleston of Bradenton, Fla., Ronda Lee (Marc) Whitney of Norwich, Donald H. (Cheryl) Orlando of Ocala, Fla., and Michael Lee (Renee) Orlando of Norwich. Many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews also survive.
Ken was predeceased by a son Roy Lee Orlando and his brother Louis R. Eccleston.
At Ken’s request there will be no formal services and burial will be private. Please consider memorial contributions to the McDonough Fire Department, McDonough, NY 13801 or the Oxford Fire Department, Oxford, NY 13830.
Arrangements are by the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home.