Eric Newton

When reflecting on the life of Eric C. Newton, it is easy to see his unwavering strength and unconditional love for his family. He was a constant source of strength, even in the hardest of times. Although he was taken from his loved ones much too soon, he made a significant impact in the lives of so many. Deeply loved, he will be forever missed.

The 1990s were a time unlike any other when technology brought is conveniences we could only dream of at one time, and with the birth of the world wide web in December of 1990, our lives were never the same. It was also during this exciting time that Wayne and Cara (Rea) Newton were pleased to announce the birth of the son they named Eric Charles, born on November 4, 1993, at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Growing up, Eric was a typical young man of his generation. He was raised in the family home in Grand Rapids alongside his older brother, Brandon, who was two years his senior. Eric suffered from many ear infections, which eventually affected his hearing. However, once he had a tube, he could hear so much better and was even startled by it at first. Eric was always a bundle of energy. He loved to play games and tricks. Throughout much of his childhood, Eric was very active in Boy Scouts as a part of the Walker Charter 5, and he even became a Life Scout. Some of his favorite memories were trips with the Scouts, such as the Fillmount Hike and National Jamboree. Eric attended Walker Charter Academy until the eighth grade, then moved on to City High School. He then went on to attend Central Michigan University, University of Indiana at South Bend, and finally Grand Rapids Community College, where he studied philosophy and accounting. Eric’s skill with numbers and math allowed him to thrive in his education, and he was just two classes short of finishing with an associate’s degree.

New and exciting changes were on the horizon for Eric as he met the woman who would remain his longtime partner. Her name was Nichole Preston, and they met while bowling with friends in 2014. Eric and Nichole have been together ever since. They loved playing Pokémon games against each other and spent days driving around looking for new cards.

Of all the things Eric loved in life, he treasured his family above all else. Though he and Brandon would often argue as brothers do, Eric adored his brother and looked up to him as a role model. Many of their fights ended in a Yu-Gi-Oh! card game, which always settled everything. Christmas was always spent with family. For birthdays, Eric and his mother would go to see the latest superhero movie, and he and his father would see the newest sci-fi. He loved to drive with his dad and brother and sing musicals. Eric was devastated when his mother passed away from colon cancer, but he was forever grateful for the time he was able to share with her.

In his free time, Eric pursued many hobbies and in many ways was an old soul as he was fascinated by the late 1800s with both trains and fashion. He enjoyed reading anything from sci-fi and fantasy to Victorian history, and he fell in love with watching movies at a young age. Eric had a lifelong passion for trains, beginning with Thomas the Tank Engine. As a child, he thought he might become a train engineer until he learned it was mostly about pressing buttons but not pulling levers. However, Eric still liked to sit by the tracks and watch the trains go by. He loved Legos, especially imported train kits from Russia, as they were often cheaper and more unique. Eric also enjoyed Japanese animation and classical music. He was known for his sweet tooth, and he liked eating out at every chance. In order to increase his knowledge of finance, Eric once took a class with H&R Block to help prepare taxes. He passed the class, but he wasn’t offered a job because, due to his introverted nature and gentle presence, he wasn’t “chatty” enough. Eric also had a great passion for fashion. He was a dress designer whose ownership of Diamond Thread Designs took him on many exciting trips all over the world to experience various cultures. For the last few years, however, Eric worked at Amway as a distribution specialist, where his Spanish classes in high school actually came in handy! He was a huge fan of Queen Latifah and Whoopi Goldberg as he enjoyed both their work and their personal stories.

There were so many things to love about Eric. He was reserved and primarily an introvert but he also had such a kind heart. Perhaps at times he was a bit too kind as he did find himself frustrated when people took advantage of him. Eric was trustworthy, and he would be vulnerable with others and didn’t shy away from sharing his feelings. Liked quiet - so much so that he would sometimes go over to his Dad’s just to sit and take in the quietness. As his family and friends can attest he was very sentimental, and the pearl necklace that he inherited from his mother was his most cherished possession. Eric was terrible at playing video games, except driving games. But when it came to actual driving, he was terrible as he once crashed a car on his road test!

All who knew Eric C. Newton would agree that he truly understood the secret to a life well lived. He treasured his loved ones above all else, and he never took a single moment with his family for granted. Though he will be deeply missed, Eric leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that his loved ones will forever treasure.

Eric C. Newton, age 27, left us to be with his mom on Sunday, April 11 after a tough battle with COVID. Born on November 4, 1993, he was nothing but resilient, loving, and giving until the end. Eric studied accounting and finance, but will always be remembered for his love of trains, Lego, and fashion. His ownership of Diamond Thread Designs took him across the country, and to Europe, to explore and experience the cultures that inspired his work. Eric is survived by his partner of seven years, Nichole Preston, his dad, Wayne, and older brother, Brandon. Eric was predeceased by his mom, Cara. Visitation will be on Saturday, April 17, 2021 from 4-6pm at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home (2120 Lake Michigan Dr NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504). Memorial contributions may be made to Music for All.