OBITUARY - The State, newspaper, Columbia, SC - Thursday, March 29, 2012:
WINNSBORO - A memorial service for John Franklin Heilman, age 93, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2012, at White Oak ARP Church conducted by the Rev. Dr. Clyde T. McCants. The family will receive friends after the service in the church fellowship hall.
Mr. Heilman entered the joy of his Lord at the Lowman Home in Chapin on Tuesday morning, March 27, 2012. He was the husband of the late Gladys Mohn Heilman and a son of the late William John and Mary Bernd Heilman. He was born in Egypt, PA, January 16, 1919. He and Gladys met while sophomores at Penn State University where he graduated with a B.S. degree in forestry. During his senior year, John enlisted in the Navy's V-5 program and upon graduation he started preflight training at UNC, eventually completing flight training at Jacksonville, FL, Naval Air Station. He was stationed at Green Cove Springs, FL, an operational Fighter Training base. During this time he and Gladys married. He was a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps during WW II, was assigned to the Marine Air Corps Station at Ewa on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, and flew F4F Wildcat fighter planes.
After 34 years with International Paper Co., Mr. Heilman retired as a regional forester for the Georgetown Region to his beloved White Oak, SC, home where he and Gladys lived and enjoyed life for over 30 years. He served as a deacon, elder and church treasurer of White Oak Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church. Recently, he was honored as an elder emeritus. John was also active in the community as a faithful member of the Lion's Club and he and Gladys delivered Meals on Wheels for many years. He was a very devoted husband, father, grand-paw, and great granddaddy.
Mr. Heilman is survived by two sons, James F."Jim" Heilman (Lynn), William W. "Bill" Heilman (Teresa); one daughter, Judy H. Cunningham; seven grandchildren, Leah, Jeannie, Patrick, Andrew, Teresa Diane, Ryan and Melissa; and seven great-grandchildren, Jacob, Desire'e, Samuel, Alexandra, Maegan Ann, Grayson and Christian.
In addition to his wife, Gladys, Mr. Heilman was predeceased by a brother, Edgar, and a sister, Harriet.
