On Christmas Day, Dr. Joseph Lewis Eckenrode died at Lancaster Regional Medical Center after a one-week illness.

Born in Lancaster, June 5, 1919, he was the son of John W. and Kathryn Griffitts Eckenrode.

After attending St. Mary's parochial school, he graduated as salutatorian from Lancaster Catholic High. In 1941 he received a bachelor's degree cum laude from Georgetown University and entered the University's medical school in the fall of that year. With training accelerated due to World War II, Dr. Eckenrode was commissioned as a naval officer during medical school and received his degree in 1944 following an internship in Washington DC. He was drafted by the Army and served a brief time before being discharged in August, 1945. During the Korean War, Dr. Eckenrode was again commissioned as an officer in the Navy and was assigned to the Philadelphia Naval Yard.

After a residency at St. Joseph's hospital, Dr. Eckenrode began his practice in 1946, with his first office on East King St., from which he moved to 834 Marietta Avenue, where he continued to see patients as a general practitioner until 1991. During this 45-year period he was an active member of Saint Joseph hospital's medical staff, serving in many capacities, including president. In 1965 Dr. Eckenrode was elected Lancaster County coroner, an office he held until 1969. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Eckenrode was on the medical staff of Conestoga View nursing home, acting for a number of years as director of the medical staff. As a member, Dr. Eckenrode assisted in publicizing the Lancaster County Medical Society, for which he researched and wrote historical vignettes.

Throughout his professional life, Dr. Eckenrode donated medical care to students of all the Catholic schools in Lancaster city as well as to the faculty, especially the nuns of the Lancaster deanery, and later to the Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary. He was also in the fifties and sixties the football team doctor at Lancaster Catholic High, which in 2011 honored him with the school's Alumni Citation for Outstanding Professional Achievement. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, a parishioner of St. Anthony's parish, and also worshipped at the chapel of Lancaster Regional Medical Center. A Man of Malvern, he was saluted in 2007 as a 50-year attendee of the Palm Sunday weekend retreat.

Since 1957, Dr. Eckenrode supported the activities of the Lancaster Kiwanis Club. He also worked as a volunteer with United Disabilities, with the local Special Olympics, and was on the board of Sylvan Retreat Apartments. On numerous occasions he presented travelogues at the Fulton theater, and in recent years volunteered at Evergreen Estates.

He owned a cabin in Sullivan County, which, as a skilled carpenter, Dr. Eckenrode did much to improve. He was a hunter, mostly of uncooperative deer and turkeys. Beginning as a child on his father's clay court, he played tennis with family and friends until the age of 90 and spent other leisure time following the Phillies and 76ers, usually with modest expectations.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy S. Eckenrode, by two sons, Joseph L., Jr., husband of Mary Kay, and George K., husband of Candace, and by two daughters, Mary, wife of Dr. Robert Gibson, Charlottesville, Va. and Eileen, wife of William Vroom, Purcellville, Va., along with 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Two siblings also survive, Virginia Metzger of Lancaster and Betty Shammas of Pacific Grove, California.

Thanks are due to Dr. Robert Shulz, the staff of the Lancaster Regional Medical Center, and ICU nurse Maureen, for their diligent and thoughtful care.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 501 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 11AM, with Rev. Daniel Mitzel as Celebrant.  A viewing will be held at the church from 9:45 until 11AM. Interment will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Persons wishing to honor the memory of Dr. Eckenrode are asked to send a memorial contribution to the Water Street Rescue Mission, 210 S. Prince St., Lancaster. To send an online condolence, please visit  SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory 393-9661