Obituary of William-R. Heath

HEATH, William R. 74, of Clearwater, died July 7, 2008, at Morton Plant Hospital. He was born in Richlands, NC. He moved to this area 37 years ago from Dayton, OH. He is survived by his beloved and devoted wife of 52 years, Elizabeth H. Heath; his son Michael D. Heath (Juana) of Orlando, FL; brother Joseph C. Heath of Deep Run, NC; sisters-in-law Barbara Brainard of Swansboro, NC, Pauline Heath of New Bern, NC; nieces Theresa A. Matus of Lakewood Ranch, FL, Ruth A. Matthews of Swansboro, NC, Wendy Pechmann of Fayettville, NC; nephews Dan Dail of Brandon, FL, Andrew Heath of Deep Run, NC, Dennis Heath of Kwajalein Atoll, Daniel Heath of New Bern, NC. Mr. Heath was a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He held an executive position with the General Motors Corporation, Frigidaire Division, in Dayton, OH and Tampa, FL. He served in the U.S. Army at Fort Gordon, GA, training foreign officers in the Signal Division. His efforts were recognized and honored with the Army Commendation Medal. He was called back for a second tour of duty during the Berlin Wall crisis. Mr. Heath was active in his community, volunteering as a Director on one of the first boards of the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast; Commodore of the Island Estates Yacht Club; instrumental in bringing concert series, with Maestro Alfredo Antonini, to St. Brenden's Catholic Church, Island Estates and Chapel-by-the-Sea, Clearwater Beach. Mr. Heath had an ongoing newspaper column in the Pinellas county newspaper, the Beach Bee, for many years. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Clearwater. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, or SPCA-Tampa Bay, 9099 130th Ave, North, Largo, FL, 33773. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Moss Feaster Funeral Home Serenity Gardens Chapel 562-2080