Ronald E. Heald

On April 23, 2020, Major Ronald Eugene Heald-USMC (Ret) laid down his working tools to join the Great Architect of the Universe. He was born on January 12, 1936 in Syracuse, NY; the son of Dor Eugene and Jean Brown Heald, formerly of Adams, NY. He is survived by his wife Linda Buell Heald to whom he was married to for 51 years and their children Monica Lin Heald of Fredericksburg, VA and Lawrence William Heald of Spring Hill, TN; his brother Richard Dor Heald of Fletcher, NC; three grandchildren, Jamie M McCoy of Oklahoma City, OK, Travis Chapman of Boston, MA and Richard Chapman of Grass Lake, Michigan; and three great-grandchildren, Jett and Harper McCoy of Oklahoma City, OK and Greyson Chapman of Grass Lake, Michigan and numerous cousins. Major Heald attended Adams High School, Adams, NY and enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school in 1953. In 1956 he was selected to attend Navy flight training in Pensacola, FL as a Naval Aviation Cadet. He received his Gold Aviators Wings and was Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1957. As a helicopter pilot he served tours in California, Japan, North Carolina, Haiti, Pensacola, FL and the Republic of Vietnam in 1966/67. In 1967 he transitioned to jet attack and fighter aircraft and served in North Carolina and again in Vietnam in 1970/71. During his two combat tours in Vietnam he distinguished himself in combat and was awarded the Silver Star Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, 62 Air Medal awards, Purple Heart Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and Combat Action Ribbon, as well as many other Presidential and Navy unit citations, and other service awards while flying 1256 Combat missions. After his Vietnam service, he served on General level staff assignments at Headquarters, Fleet Marine Force Pacific and at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Before retiring from the Marine Corps in 1974, he graduated Cum Laude from Chaminade University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and was elected to Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society. Following his military retirement, he worked with the Aegis Destroyer and Cruiser shipbuilding program as a consultant with Systems Consultants Inc., which was later was absorbed by Northrop Grumman. He retired from Northrop Grumman in 1998 after 24 years of service and devoted his time to volunteer work in community organizations. He was very active in the Masonic Community serving as Worshipful Master of Springfield Lodge #217 in 1994, and District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District 1B in 2015. He was a member of Alexandria Body of the Scottish Rite Masons and served twice as High Priest with Annandale Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. He was a member of KENA Shriners and served as Commander of the Legion of Honor in 2007. He was a DeMolay Advisor for the Woodlawn Chapter and Edwin Albert Mroz Chapter and was the Northern Region Deputy for Virginia DeMolay for many years, was elected as an Honorary member of the International Supreme Council of DeMolay International. He also served on two of the Grand Lodge of Virginia’s Committees for many years, the Committee on Youth and the Committee on Masonic Community Blood Programs. Then he laid down his working tools and went to rest.

Masonic Funeral Rites to be performed on Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 3:00 pm at the Alexandria Scottish Rite Temple located at 1430 West Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22032. Doors open at 2:00 for visiting and light refreshments, as well as after the ceremony from 3:30-4:30pm. Social distancing will need to be observed inside the temple and masks will be required.

Visitation will be on Monday, November 16, 2020 at Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22151 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.

A private burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military Honors.