Eckhart, Zachary Ryan

Ens. Zachary Ryan Eckhart, 25, of Orefield, Pa., flew his final flight as a Naval Flight Officer on April 12, 2010, when his training jet crashed in northern Georgia. He was the husband of Sarah L. Eckhart, his college sweetheart, with whom he celebrated their first anniversary this past October 11. Born in Virginia Beach, Va., on March 28, 1985, he was the son of retired Navy Commanders Brad and Joyce Eckhart. Zach was a 2003 graduate of Northwestern Lehigh High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society, Drama Club Tech crew, and the high school marching band where he was the drum major in his senior year. He was also very active in scouting and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Zach attended Virginia Tech on a four year NROTC Scholarship. He graduated with the class of 2008 receiving his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. While there he was a member of the Corps of Cadets (VTCC) as well as the regimental band, the Highty-Tighties. During his time with VTCC he was a guidon carrier, the academic officer for both the band company and the 3rd Battalion and also a section leader. He graduated in 2007 from the Corps with a minor in Leadership studies. He lived by the motto “Deeds Not Words.” After graduation he earned a commission in the United States Navy and was accepted into the Naval Flight Officer School in Pensacola. Fla. He received his Navy Wings of Gold as a Naval Flight Officer on April 16, 2010, at Pensacola, Fla., during a memorial service held to honor him and the other three officers involved in the crash. Survivors include his beloved wife, Sarah; his parents, in Pennsylvania; sister, Megan, a senior at Virginia Tech; and aunts, uncle and other family members in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Texas. He is also survived by his in-laws, Lex and Caroline LaMotte, of Midilothian, Va.; and sistersin-law, Frances of Richmond, Va., and Emily a freshman at Virginia Tech. Funeral services with Full Military Honors will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2010, at Weisenberg Lutheran Church in New Tripoli. Calling hours at the church will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with services immediately following and burial in the Weisenberg Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a Scholarship in his memory at Virginia Tech Foundation, memo “Zachary Eckhart Memorial,” Virginia Tech University Development (0336), Blacksburg, Va. 24061 ATTN: Corps of Cadets.