Dolores Ann Eckles

Dolores was born in Taylor, Texas on June 23,1943 to Joe and Elsie Zimmerhanzel.

Dolores was a high-spirited, fun loving, talented teacher of learning, an information communicator, and had a zest for life and liked to be seen and known! Dolores grew up in Circleville, TX and graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She went on to complete her Master’s degree in Library Science from SUNY Albany, NY. Dolores worked as a teacher and a library media specialist in several school districts teaching children to read and helping them to grow a love of books and learning. She would often dress as book characters (such as Laura Ingles Wilder or Clifford the Big Red Dog, etc.) to interact and motivate children. She was nominated twice as Teacher of the Year at two different school districts. She also wrote grants for schools and churches and received over a dozen grants, one which enabled her to study in Ireland for two weeks and share her experience with children and others. Dolores was a lifetime member of the PTA.

Dolores travelled all over the world, reaching across 6 different continents. She loved people and exploring cultures, Ireland being one of her favorites which she visited 3 times. She has always been active in her church and was additionally able to go on two separate missions, one to Kenya, Africia where she helped rebuild a library, and to Russia where she stayed with a Russian family and learned the culture, along with the correct way to drink vodka!

Dolores was a published author. She published “Journey to Love” (a memoir), and was published in over 20 other articles, a great deal of those with “The Medical Examiner” here in Augusta, GA. Some of these publications were her experiences with being a 15-year survivor of pancreatic cancer. She always wanted to help those who were going through the hardships that she had survived.

Dolores is survived by daughters Donna Dupras (Evans, GA) and Rhonda Dupras (Charlotte, NC), sister-in-law Betty Zimmerhanzel (Circleville/Taylor, TX), best friend Joy Bechard Spillers (Las Vegas, NV), Elaine and ex-husband Pat Dupras (Evans, GA), and nephews Craig (wife Laurie) Zimmerhanzel (Taylor, TX) and Joey (wife Fay) Voight (Thrall, TX), along with numerous cousins throughout Central Texas. The Dupras family (Rouses Point, NY) also played an intricate part of Dolores’s life.

Dolores was preceded in death by her father Joe Zimmerhanzel, mother Elsie Zimmerhanzel, brother Jim Zimmerhanzel, sister Joan McNabb, nephews Terry Voight and Jimmy Ray, and ex-husband Bob Eckles.

Dolores was immensely grateful for all of the support from her Wesley United Methodist Church family here in Evans, GA.

A ceremony will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church to honor her on June 26, 2026. Time for family and friends at 2:00-3:00 p.m., service to start at 3:00 p.m. Donations can be made in her honor to The National Psoriasis Foundation or to Wesley United Methodist Church in Evans, GA.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com