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Seventh Generation
4766. 
Rev. Ralph Edgar ECKARD was born on 22 June 1927 in Alexander County, North Carolina. He died on 15 September 2011 at the age of 84 in Frye Regional Medical Center, Hickory, Catawba County, NC. His obituary appeared as follows: HICKORY The Rev. Ralph E. Eckard, 84, passed away Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 at Frye Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. Ralph E. Eckard was born on his grandparent's farm in Alexander County on June 22, 1927. He attended Highland Elementary School and later St. Stephens High School, graduating in May 1944. He graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College (now University) with a BA in June 1947. In May 1974 Lenoir-Rhyne awarded him a Doctor of Divinity degree. In Sept. 1947 he enrolled at Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary, Maywood, Ill. (Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago) graduating with a Master of Divinity, on June 8, 1950. Then on June 10 he married Betty Jane Froehlich. On June 25, 1950 Pastor Ralph was ordained by the North Carolina Synod, ULCA. He served two different parishes in Iowa and during this period he also served as secretary, vice-president and acting president of the Iowa Synod. He then served one parish in Missouri and one in Illinois. In 1961 he was elected assistant to the president of the Illinois Synod. In October, 1962 he was elected assistant to the president of the Lutheran Church in America, New York City and served three different presidents until the creation of the ELCA in 1988. Pastor Ralph and Betty moved to Hickory from New Jersey in Oct.,1989. He was a member of St. Stephens Lutheran Church, ELCA. Surviving are his wife, Betty Froehlich Eckard of the home; daughters, Nancy Verderosa and her husband, Michael of Coram, N.Y., Ruth Anderson and her husband, Kurt of Tampa, Fla., and Linda Vilardo and her husband, Dan of Alexandria, Va.; grand-daughters, Heather Anderson and Nicole Anderson of Alexandria, Va., grandson Brian Verderosa of Coram, N.Y. and granddaughter Melissa Vilardo of Los Angeles, Ca.; and an extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, along with special pets Samantha and Taylor Vilardo. A memorial service will be held on Monday, Sept. 19, at 10 a.m. at St. Stephens Lutheran Church, ELCA on Springs Road with Pastor Richard Hites officiating along with participation by Bishop Leonard H. Bolick of the NC Synod of the ELCA. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship room immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in memory of Pastor Ralph to St. Stephens Lutheran Church or Lenoir-Rhyne University. Condolences may be made online at www.hickoryfh.com. The Hickory Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. [Published in Hickory Daily Record on September 17, 2011]