Wilmer G. “Bill” Heath, age 81, of Emlenton (Lamartine), went home to be with the Lord peacefully on Wednesday morning, April 29, 2015 while surrounded by his family at UPMC Northwest at Seneca.
Born June 28, 1933 in Shippenville, he was a son of the late Wilmer G. and Twila Hale Heath and was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Bill was a graduate of the Shippenville High School and a veteran of the United States Army serving during the Korean War. He was a member of the Army Security Agency stationed in Germany from 1953 to 1955 and was honorably discharged in 1956.
He worked for Knox Glass and Anchor Glass is Reno as a supervisor for 38 years and retired as a supervisor from Kahle’s Kitchens in Leeper.
Bill was a member of the Salem Lutheran Church in Lamartine and served on the church council for many years. He served 12 years on the Keystone School Board and was the Salem Township tax collector for 16 years.
He was also a member of the Edenburg Masonic Lodge #550 of Knox, the Oil City Lodge of Perfection; the New Castle Consistory; the American Legion Post #997 of Lamartine and the Salem Community Club.
Bill enjoyed hunting, working in his garden, traveling, camping and most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family.
On May 22, 1953 he married the former Shirley Beels and she survives. A celebration was held to mark their 60th wedding anniversary.
Survivors in addition to his wife include their four children: Sherry Neely and her husband, Doug, of Lamartine; Greg Heath and his wife, Linda, also of Lamartine; Michele McHenry and her husband, Vince, of Ephrata and Laurie Stewart and her husband, Greg, of Eldred; ten grandchildren: Matthew Neely and his wife, Jamie, of Endicott, New York; Brian Neely and his wife, Traci, of Utica; Melissa Lowry and her husband, Kris, also of Utica; Garriett Heath and his wife, Autumn, of Knox; Courtney Heuer and her husband, Jared, of Philadelphia; Jordan Heath of Lamartine; Paul McHenry and his wife, Amy of Chicago, Illinois; Emily McHenry of Harrisburg; Brent Stewart of Washington, D.C and Heath Stewart of Eldred.
Bill is also survived by three great grandchildren: Greyson Heath, Eli Heath and Daniel Neely.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters and a brother: Lois Allaman, Mary Allaman and Raymond Heath.
Family and friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 1, 2015 at the William N. Rupert Mortuary, Inc., 430 Mendenhall Avenue, Knox and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 2, 2015, at the Salem Lutheran Church, 2057 Route 208, Lamartine.
Funeral services will be held in the church at 11 a.m. Saturday with the Reverend Sharon Hilfiger officiating.
Military honors will be accorded at the graveside by the DeHart-Rossman-Wenner American Legion Post #997 of Lamartine with the Berlin-Bowser American Legion Post #720 of Knox assisting.
Interment will take place in the Salem Lutheran Cemetery at Lamartine.
Memorial contributions may be given in the name of Wilmer G. Heath to the Salem Lutheran Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 82, Lamartine, PA 16375.
Online condolences may be sent to Bill’s family at www.rupertfuneralhomes.com.
