Donald F. Heath

Donald F. Heath of Longmont, Colorado passed away at home Monday evening, September 10, 2012, following a long battle with cancer. Don was born June 22, 1934 in Taunton, Massachusetts, the son of John S. and Dorothy (Manley) Heath. Don joined the Air Force in 1952. He saw combat service in Korea in 1953 and was awarded the Air Medal. He was then assigned to Smoky Hill AFB in Salina, Kansas, where following completion of his military service he attended college in Salina and later in Wichita. A long newspaper career began on the advertising staff of the Wichita Eagle in 1959. Wishing to live in Colorado, he joined the Boulder Daily Camera's Ad Department in 1964, becoming the newspaper's Advertising Director in 1970. His career progressed through other newspaper management assignments in Colorado, Florida, Kansas and Nebraska. He was General Manager of the Hastings Tribune in Hastings, Nebraska when we decided to return to the lure of Colorado for one last time in1990, when he joined the management team of the Daily Times-Call. Following retirement from full time duties in 1996, Don rejoined the Times-Call=s Editorial Board and wrote the weekly Johnnie St. Vrain column until his retirement December 31, 2004. Don was active in the communities he served, which included serving on Chamber of Commerce boards in Hastings, Nebraska, and Junction City, Kansas, the United Way Board in Hastings, Rotary in Hastings, Friends of the Longmont Museum in Longmont, the Loomiller Neighbor- hood Trojan Café Board, Boy Scouts Fund Raising, and was a member of the Longmont Break- fast Optimist Club (L.B.O.C.). He spent his retirement years studying American History and Native American History and enjoyed visiting sites of historical interest throughout the country.On September 17, 1955 Don and Carol sterreich were united in marriage in the First Methodist Church, Herington, Kansas. Survivors include his wife, Carol, of the home; his son, Michael Heath, and his wife, Chantay, two granddaughters, Julie Heath and Amy Heath, and four great-grandchildren. He also has aunts, an uncle, nieces and nephews.Preceding him in death were his parents and one brother, Herman Gavel. He is survived by brothers Alan Heath of Mansfield, MA, Charles Heath and wife Teri of Prescott Valley, AZ, Strafford Heath of Cheyenne, WY and Paul Heath of Kennewick, WA. Cremation will be conducted by Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. A brief memorial service will be held Friday morning September 14, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.at the Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Longmont Breakfast Optimist Club's Youth Fund, (L.B.O.C.), HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, and may be given or sent to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. Share condolences and memories at: www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com.