Obituary

Martin Wayne Eich, 86, passed away on July 25, 2024, of natural causes and is now in heaven with his beloved wife, Carol.

He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on October 23, 1937.  Wayne graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music with dual degrees in piano performance and church music. His first and only job was the Director of Choirs and Minister of Music at Charleston’s Baptist Temple, a position he held for 44 years, from 1961 until his retirement in 2005.

In addition to being the minister of music at the Baptist Temple, he taught private piano lessons to hundreds of students during his long tenure here. He was the director of the Charleston Civic Chorus from 1971 to 1981.

Wayne was married to Carol Crumrine Eich from 1974 until her death in 2015. She was the organist at First Presbyterian Church in Charleston and Professor of Music and Humanities at what is now West Virginia State University, and, more importantly, the love of Wayne’s life. He and his wife, Carol, were fixtures in the music community in Kanawha Valley.

Wayne and his wife Carol had a deep love for Boston Terriers, and their beloved Freddie, Chrissy, Cosmo, and Emmie Lou were blessed to have been adopted by them. Wayne and Carol walked their dog multiple times a day in the neighborhood. The walks were rather lengthy as they stopped and talked with neighbors along the way, which often became groups of neighbors talking.

In fact, Wayne was affectionately known as “The Mayor of Myrtle” by some of his dear neighbor friends on Myrtle Road, and Fern Road, where he lived for 40 years. He earned this name through his hard work of knowing the ins and outs of what was happening with everyone in the neighborhood and greeting them with his warm smile and infectious and unique laugh. Among the neighbors, Jennifer DePond stood out as the neighbor who checked on Wayne daily and drove him to Florida and to Detroit, Michigan, to see his twin brother, when he could no longer drive.

Always purists to “old school” traditions, one of Wayne and Carol’s greatest loves other than music, was entertaining with formal dinner parties featuring China, crystal, and silver. They were members of a gourmet club that was first established in 1972; of the original and subsequent twelve members, only four survive. Wayne was also a meticulous gardener and shared his love of gardening with many.

Wayne was predeceased by his parents, Merrill and Florence Eich, and his older brothers, James and Rolla, and his twin brother, Warren. Wayne and his twin brother, Warren, developed their own language as children with various gestures and sayings, that they continued to use even after turning 80 years old.

Friends of Wayne want to thank Edgewood Summit, The Arthur B. Hodges Center, and most recently, Hospice for all of the care that he received over the past two years. Many thanks also to his companion of the past year, Lisa, for all of the nice visits and taking him to his activities as his health allowed.

If you would like to make a donation in Wayne’s memory, please consider donating to the Kanawha Charleston Humane Society or a local or national Boston Terrier rescue group.

A memorial service celebrating Wayne’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 30, 2024, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Charleston, West Virginia, with a reception immediately following. For those unable to attend, the service can be viewed at the following site, https://www.facebook.com/st.charleston .

Condolences may be sent to Wayne’s family at www.barlowbonsall.com.

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.