~ IN MEMORY ~
USAF, NWA pilot Major General (Ret) Gary Leonard
Eichhorn
December 25, 1934 ~ September 1, 2025
Gary Eichhorn Obituary
Major General (Ret) Gary Leonard Eichhorn, United
States Air Force Retired, passed away at his home on September 1, 2025, he was
90 years old. Born to Thelma (Hartfelder) and Leonard Eichhorn of Bay City
Michigan on Christmas day in 1934, he attended T. L. Handy High School in Bay
City and graduated in 1952. He worked in Bay City including Bouchy's Shell on
Euclid, City Dairy on Columbus and Defoe Shipbuilding.
Gary enlisted in the Air Force in 1956. He later
attended the USAF Aviation Cadet Program and after graduating in 1959, received
his pilot wings and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He is a 1977
graduate of Minnesota State University with a degree in Military Science.
He rose through the ranks in the Air Force,
retiring in 1994 after attaining the rank of Major General. Upon retirement, he
had over 38 years of continuous active and reserve service and was awarded the
USAF Distinguished Service Medal. In 1968 he transferred to the Air Force
Reserve flying C-119's and C-130's and began flying for Northwest Airlines as
an Instructor Pilot in Boeing 707's. He moved the family to Burnsville, MN
where Northwest Airlines was based. He flew Boeing 727's, 707's, 747's and DC-10's
for Northwest until 1977 when he retired and moved to Stuart, FL.
In his retirement, Gary pursued his dreams of
being on the water, restoring classic cars, collecting beer steins, and flying
small experimental aircraft. His love for flying never abated, and Gary built
and flew three homebuilt aircraft. Gary is also known for his love of vintage
automobiles. He restored a 1948 Packard Custom Club Sedan, which went on to win
the best-in-class award at the 2005 Boca Raton Concurs de Elegance.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years,
Roma Joyce (Newton) Eichhorn formerly of Moultrie, GA. He had two sons, CW5
Leonard Eichhorn USA (RET) and wife Annette of Dothan, AL and LTC Lawrence
Eichhorn, USAF (RET) and wife Shannon, of Las Vegas, NV. He had one daughter,
Lisa Inguanti and husband Paul, of Groton, CT. He had two brothers, Major
Adrian Eichhorn, USA (RET) of Frankenmuth, MI (Deceased) and Allen Eichhorn, of
Bay City, MI. He also counted five grandchildren, MSG Aaron Eichhorn USA and Wife
Maranda of JBLM, WA. SSG Garrett Eichhorn, USMC Reserve and Wife Samantha of
Wicksburg, AL. And CW3 Zachary Eichhorn, USA and wife Kaylee of Fire Candle,
TX. He had two granddaughters, Kristina Utt, of New London, CT, and Hannah Utt
and husband Chris Carver of Manor, TX. He is survived by 7 great grandchildren:
Ethan, Kaleb, LoraBeth, Mason, Wyatt and Conner Eichhorn, and Eleanor Sparen.
A visitation for Gary will be held Tuesday,
September 16, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Aycock Funeral Home Young &
Prill Chapel, 6801 SE FEDERAL HWY, STUART, FL 34997. Funeral service: 2 p.m.-3
p.m. and Reception: 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
In the care of Aycock Funeral Home Young &
Prill Chapel, Stuart, FL.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/baycity/name/gary-eichhorn-obituary?id=59441106
PCN memorial site
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