The last surviving charter member of the New Windsor Fire and Hose Company #1, Mr. Charles Ecker, died on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, at his home in New Windsor . In addition to being the only surviving Charter Member of the New Windsor Fire and Hose Company #1, Mr. Ecker was an honored World War II Veteran. On June 4, 1944, Mr. Ecker, landed on the beaches of Normandy, and helped the Allied forces make the push into Germany. For his valiant service to his Country, Mr. Ecker was awarded two Bronze Stars. In addition to that, Mr. Ecker was named a "Chevalier", or Knight of the Legion of Honour, by the President of France. The "Chevalier" is the highest ranking military award in France.

After his service in the military, Mr. Ecker returned to Carroll County and worked for Carroll Petroleum where he retired from in 1981.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Ecker is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Edwin H. Conaway of New Windsor; son and daughter-in-law, Donald W. and Carol Ecker of Littlestown, PA; six grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and brother Herbert Ecker of Taneytown.

The family will receive friends at Hartzler Funeral Home at 310 Church Street in New Windsor, on Friday, March 6th from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. . The New Windsor Fire Department will have a memorial service at 8 pm on March 6th at Hartzler Funeral Home. A military grave side service will be held on Saturday, March 7th at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Uniontown.