Tributes

SMSgt. USAF-Ret. Charles L. Heard, beloved husband, father and grandfather, died November 5, 2009. Chuck was born to Charles and Lucile Heard on June 30, 1925, in Glenloch, Georgia. In 1957 he married Patricia Gustin of Flasher, North Dakota. A career military man, Chuck served his country in three wars. He joined the Merchant Marines in 1944 and served in the Atlantic and Pacific corridors during WWII. In 1949, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served in Asia during the Korean War. He was the postmaster of Sembach AFB, Germany, and was selected as USAFPCS Germany District Outstanding Airman of the Year in 1970. Chuck served at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon during the Vietnam War. He received numerous military service commendations throughout his career, including a Bronze Star Medal for his service in Vietnam. He retired from the USAF in 1976 and then worked for the U.S. Postal Service until 1989. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Chuck was preceded in death by his wife Pat in April. He is also predeceased by infant son Bradley, parents, stepmother Mabel Heard and brother Lee. He is survived by his children, Chris Heard and wife Tina, Charjean Neuer and husband Ray, and Patty Heard and husband Paul Howells and by his grandchildren, Marcus Heard, Keven Bair and Taegan and Linden Howells. He is also survived by brothers Wortham and Phillip and their families, many cousins and Pat's extended family. We wish to thank the staff at Patriot Heights and A-Med Hospice for their compassionate care. We are deeply grateful to the friends and family who visited Chuck, sent him cards, and kept him in their thoughts and prayers. Our parents were blessed to have such people in their lives. Chuck enjoyed watching sports, playing cards, exploring new restaurants with Pat, gardening, listening to music, especially jazz, attending veterans meetings, and talking politics and history. After retiring, he did volunteer work at the VA Medical Center and Casa Helotes for many years. He was an animal lover and few things gave him more pleasure than fattening up a stray cat. He liked people and he could talk your ear off. He was kindhearted and wonderfully sentimental, often moved to tears by weddings, parades, and school programs. He loved Pat, his children and their spouses, and his grandchildren. He was proud of his children and supported them unconditionally. His grandchildren were an unending source of joy. Chuck fought back from the physical and emotional challenges of the past year with the resolve and strength so characteristic of his generation. He is now with Mom. We love him and we will miss him. Because in the end the love you take is indeed equal to the love you make, Chuck and Pat were much loved. For those who wish to make a donation in Chuck's memory, please consider a donation to Muscular Dystrophy Association - WEB, PO Box 78960, Phoenix, AZ 85062-8960 or www.mda.org and specify the Mitochondrial Myopathy MIITO subgroup in support of Faith McColl, the great-granddaughter of his beloved aunt Faith Copeland. Visitation will be held at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North on November 11, 2009, beginning at 6:00 pm with a Rosary at 7:00 pm. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am on November 12, 2009 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Helotes, Texas, with a luncheon immediately following. Interment will follow at 1:30 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Tributes

Charles L. Heard

June 30, 1925 - November 5, 2009