MEREDITH - Dr. James R. Eakin, 73, optometrist, of Meredith, N.H., died Sunday, August 24, 2014 at the home of his beloved Cindi Curtis with family with him. He was born 3 months premature in Franklin, PA to the late Cora (Phinney) and Harold Eakin, January l, 1941, with a twin sibling, Roger, who did not survive. He married Annette Coen Eakin who survives with his children, Mitchell and Brooke of Concord, NH and Colin of St. Petersburg, FL. His sister and brother-in-law, Kathryn Miller and the Hon. Gordon Miller of Hilton Head, SC, both were with him till the day of his death. He has a nephew, Christopher Miller and his wife, Blair, and great niece and nephew living in Denver, CO.
Jim graduated from Franklin High School, Franklin, PA in 1959 and Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio after serving 2 years in the US Army and thereafter graduated from Ohio State University Optometry School. He practiced most recently, until June, 2014, in Laconia where he owned his business and thoroughly enjoyed his staff and patients. He had to give up working when he became ill with an aggressive cancer.
His skills in his career are only a fraction of the man.
He was stoic and courageous and never complained. He was gentle with a dry sense of humor, always kind and quick to give back to his community whether on a professional level or other. He helped with adaptive skiing last winter with the blind and autistic. He was good to his family and to all whom he touched and who touched him.
Jim loved high energy activities and was a 15 year green card member of the Meredith Mountain and Chowder Society and co-wrote the adopted by-laws. He enjoyed the outdoors, hiking, tennis, downhill skiing, water sports on Lake Winnipesaukee, biking and travel with Cindi to many places to pursue these activities.
Jim was a member of the Laconia Rotary Club and was honored to receive several Paul Harris Fellow awards. He was also a member of Gilford Hills Tennis and Fitness Club.
There will be calling hours in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia on Friday, September 26, 2014 from 4-7 pm.
There will be a memorial celebration of Jim’s life at the Laconia Congregational Church, 69 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H. on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 11:00am.
Burial will be in the family lot in Meredith Village Cemetery, Meredith, N.H.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Laconia Rotary Club, PO Box 503 Laconia¸ NH 03247-0503 or a charity of one’s choice.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.