His mind was sharp and his sense of humor intact. Don loved to make people laugh! Don was born in Kansas City, MO on July 29, 1927 to George D. and Pauline (Barbour) Heath and lived his entire life in KC. He married the love of his life, Shirley S. (Sasse) Heath on May 10, 1952, and together they raised two children.
Don attended Ladd Elementary School and Central Jr. and Sr. High School. Boyhood included riding bikes, friends, Boy Scouts, Scout Camp, Drum and Bugle Corps, and becoming an Eagle Scout. He was also a Warrior in the tribe of Mic-O-Say. He went on to be Asst. Scoutmaster for his son’s troop, and so he, his son, and his father were all Eagle Scouts.
Don spent most of his career, from 1944 to 1986, as a TWA Airlines mechanic and avionic technician. He flew or drove to many destinations, including many beloved national parks. Rocky Mtn. Nat’l. Park became a family favorite.
Don was very involved with his children’s activities and sports, as well as keeping up the house, cars, yard, etc. He was a good friend and neighbor. He enjoyed his wonderful block of neighbors for nearly 60 years! Don and Shirley hosted many family holiday and birthday celebrations. They also enjoyed wonderful visits to his son’s family and property in Rogersville, for many years. Don enjoyed deck dinners, picnics, BD’s, holidays, and card games with his KC daughter and her husband. Music was big with Don! He had it playing all the time, most recently with his youngest granddaughter, Laura Ashley Heath’s country music singing!
God and church were important to Don, and he passed that down to his kids. He and the family joined Hillside Christian Church, where he was a long-time member, formerly serving as Deacon and usher. He enjoyed his friendships at Hillside.
Don had a short stay in the Naval Reserve during WWII at Boot Camp in San Diego. He was a member of TWA Old Timer’s Club, member of Heart of America TWA Club, lifetime member of Local 1650 International Assoc. of Machinists (IAM), but mostly “he just tried to be a good guy”.
Don was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; parents, George and Pauline Heath; and brother, George D. Heath, Jr. Surviving him is his daughter, Donna (Larry) of Shawnee, KS; son, Dr. Robert Heath (JoAnn) of Rogersville, MO; granddaughters, Sarah Young (Travis) of Brunswick, GA, Maria Lawler (Evan) and great-granddaughter, Sawyer Rose of Norwood, MO and Laura Ashley Heath of Nashville, TN; in-laws, Joyce and Richard Lapp of Keller, TX; nieces, Janice Thomas (Scott) and Jeanne Lapp (Harris); nephew, Greg Lapp (Ziba) of Chicago, IL; and nieces, Dawn Hauser (Dale) of Bradenton, FL and Cathy Heath-Williams of Littleton, CO.
Services for Don will be held July 23, 2020 at Newcomers White Chapel, 6600 NE Antioch Rd., Gladstone, MO. Visitation at 10:00, Service at 11:00, with burial to follow in adjacent cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Hillside Christian Church, Boy Scouts of America or The Salvation Army. Please visit Don’s memorial website www.dwnwhitechapel.com or Newcomer White Chapel Funeral Home on Facebook.
We thank all of the staff and nurses of Linden Woods Village and the hospice nurses who took outstanding care of our dad.
