Elizabeth A. Eckhardt

Elizabeth A. Eckhardt

1/24/2023

Elizabeth A. Eckhardt (known affectionately as “Betty,” “Mom,” and “Nana”) was called home to Jesus on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. Born on June 6, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Betty was the eldest of three children born to A.R. and Margaret Stasche.

Betty married Sam, the love of her life, on November 22, 1969. In 1980 Betty and Sam moved from Langhorne, Pennsylvania to DeLand, Florida with their children Troy and Tricia. In the years that followed they bought and operated the Daisy Ice Cream Shoppe in DeLand.

Betty was a bookkeeper, stay at home mom, JROTC Booster President, Girl Scout leader, committee member in the Boy Scouts of America, and a 4-H club leader. She and Sam also served together as the Volusia County Fair and Youth Show Creative Arts Department chairs for over 30 years.

She and Sam loved to travel and spent many of their 51 years of marriage doing just that. Among their favorite places to visit were Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Sam, bonus daughter Jennifer, dear friend Betty Gunter, and grandchildren Samantha Anne “Sammi” and Elijah “Weeble.”

She leaves behind her children Troy (Shea), and Tricia (Eric) both of DeLand; grandchildren CJ (Emily), Kaj (Lily), Samuel (Kaitlyn), Japheth, Heike, Hannah, Silas, Katie, and Simon; sister Jan Vanderveer of Nacogdoches, Texas; bonus grandchildren Jasmine, Noah, and Josh; and great-grandchildren Elijah, Jacob, Gracie, and Avery.

Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 5, 2023, at Glenwood Cemetery. Arrangements will be handled by Lankford Funeral Home. Flowers and cards are welcomed and appreciated, or donations can be made to Glenwood Community Youth Outreach through Mainstreet Community Bank of Florida in Betty’s memory.