More detail on this person: William (Bill) Heilman was called home by the Lord Sunday, January 24, 2016. He was born July 7, 1945 in LaPorte, Indiana. Bill worked for the NASA Shuttle Program in Houston where he was over Navigation. He was awarded the Silver Snoopy Award that is given by the astronaut team to a hand full of people each year. He also served his country as a Veteran of the U.S. Army for 33 years. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 and had served in Vietnam for two tours of duty where he flew helicopters for troops and supplies. In between tours of duty he taught other soldiers to fly helicopters at Ft. Wolters, Tx. Bill grew up in Knox, Indiana with his mother and four sisters. He was a Bee Keeper while in Knox High School and spent all of his salary on flying lessons for fixed wing airplanes. He was predeceased by his father and mother, Melvin and Amy Heilman and by two brothers in-law, Benny Bob Wright and Fred Ramer. He is survived by his wife, Jean and his son, Christopher Edwards (Dawn), his daughter, Mandy Beal (Jesse) and his grandson, Morgan Edwards who was the light of his life. He is also survived by his sisters, Pat Lucas (Don), Nancy Robinson, Melva Ramer and Amy Heilman and by his brother in-law and sister in-law, Norman and Gail Earnest. Bill had a number of nieces and nephews and was especially close to the ones who live in this area, Justin Earnest (Jennifer) and their children, Shelby and James; Stephanie and her children, Nathan, Hayden, and Anna Beggs; Greg Wright and his children, Cassidy, Kinley, and Bennett and his niece, Amy (Joe) McCulloch and their son, Matthew from South Carolina. Bill was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Hooks. He had also been a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church where he served as a Ruling Elder, Treasurer, and leader of a small group. He was a Scout Master in Houston and Elder at Clear Lake Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the VFW in Knox and the Viet Nam Helicopter Association. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 at the funeral home. Services will be 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 28 at Texarkana Funeral Home, Texas Blvd. led by Dr. Scott Luckey and Rev. Russell Wilkins. Pallbearers will be Justin Earnest, Greg Wright, Nathan Beggs, Hayden Beggs, Dillard Baker, and Robert Franklin. Burial will follow at Chapelwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family would like to suggest contributions to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, New York 10163-4777.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association