Name: Gunnery Sgt. Christopher "Chris" William Eckard Date: November 13th, 1979 - February 20th, 2010 Obituary: Gunnery Sergeant Christopher (Chris) William Eckard, 30, of Hubert, NC, formerly of Hickory, died while supporting combat operations in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan on February 20, 2010. GySgt Eckard was born November 13, 1979 to Eunice C. Eckard and the late Steven Eckard of Hickory. Chris was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician in the United States Marine Corps. He joined the Marine Corps on May 7, 2001. He was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC. In addition to his father, GySgt Eckard was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Ruth Eckard and his maternal grandparents, Woodrow and Lucy Carico. GySgt Eckard is survived by his wife of 8 years, Ashley, and their two sons, Steven William and Avery Cole, all of Hubert, NC; his mother, Eunice Eckard of Hickory; brother, Chad Eckard and wife Chastity of Hickory; grandfather, Bernard Eckard of Hickory and nieces, Kaila and Meghan Eckard of Hickory. A service of remembrance will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 5, 2010 at Highland Baptist Church, 828 9th Avenue NE, Hickory, with Rev Jesse Lott and Rev. Homer Greene officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, 3120 Falling Creek Road, Hickory, NC. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at Drum Funeral Home in Hickory. Pallbearers will be Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician’s from GySgt Eckard’s unit. Full Military Honors are provided by US Marine Corps I&I Staff of Charlotte, NC. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the EOD Memorial Foundation, 7040CR 772, Webster, FL 33597, http://www.eodmemorial.org/donate.html. The Eckard family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 940 29th Avenue, NE, Hickory, NC 828.267.5740. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the EOD Memorial Foundation, 7040CR 772, Webster, FL 33597, http://www.eodmemorial.org/donate.html. Visitations: 5:00PM to 8:00PM on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at Drum Funeral Home - Hickory (map/driving directions) Services: 10:00AM at Highland Baptist Church on Friday, March 5th, 2010 (map/driving directions) Cemetery: Woodlawn Memorial Gardens Hickory, NC 28601 (map/driving directions)