Major John Milton Heitz, USAF, Retired

Major John Milton Heitz, USAF, Retired, was born June 15, 1936 and died August 9, 2023. Born to parents who clearly did something right, John grew into a man who truly represented duty, honor, and commitment. Perhaps his midwestern upbringing gave John his steadfast and kind demeanor, but most likely these traits were ingrained in his soul as he passed those qualities on to his sons, Michael and Andy.

John was reared in Indiana and like many good Indiana boys, he dedicated his high school years to Glee Club and basketball. His claim to fame was a game against Oscar Robertson where he fouled out with zero points. John laughed about the loss the rest of his life because he knew he was a better singer than ball player, but he rarely if ever sang so who knows? During high school, his father instilled in him a love of cars and John never lost his passion for driving, especially a convertible.

An avid reader, John favored Truman Capote, Jack Kerouac and Ernest Hemmingway. He loved Jazz and spent his 20’s listening to John Coltrane, drinking scotch, smoking cigarettes, and driving his beloved sports cars. After college he might have become a teacher, but instead enlisted in the US Air Force where he steadily rose to the rank of Major. In retrospect, the Air Force was responsible for finishing the work begun by his parents.

John grew into a tall, handsome man. While stationed in Amarillo he met the woman who became his wife. Carole Atwood Heitz fell for John and they were married for more than 50 years before she died in 2019. Together with their sons, they made Edmond, Oklahoma their home.

When the country entered Vietnam, John did as well. As an Air Weapons Controller, he flew and survived countless missions. His service in Vietnam could have changed and hardened him, but it didn’t. He returned to his family spending 3 years in West Germany before returning to OKC where he was honorably discharged from service.

John worked teaching AWACS in Saudi Arabia before hanging up his hat. Once he reached retirement, he and Carole spent much of their time with 4 grandchildren, Olivia, Mason, Truman and Faye. “Papa” loved nothing more than to drive children to and fro, sometimes with a little dog on his lap. Carole and John held wonderful parties full of friends and family and John dutifully helped shop, prepare and clean up after each one. There was nothing Carole asked for that John didn’t do his utmost to grant her.

John Heitz was a quiet man with deep thoughts. He loved basketball, football, scotch, his wife, sons, grandchildren, extended family, cars and dogs. He loved walking in Edmond’s beautiful parks and when he couldn’t walk anymore, he would drive to a pretty spot, sit in his car and read. John’s legacy of honorable character and selfless care will live on through the family he loved so well.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his honor to the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City, or your local parks.

Service to be held Saturday, September 23 at 11:00 am at Baggerly Funeral Home 930 South Broadway, Edmond, OK.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.baggerley.com for the Heitz, family.