Donald Heard
Donald E. Heard, 86, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior on Monday, January 23, 2017.
Born to the late Charles and Lula Phelps Heard, Don spent his childhood years in Chattanooga graduating from Red Bank High School where he played in the band and was a member of the baseball and varsity basketball teams. Moving on to Tennessee Technical University, he met and married the love of his life, Mary Margaret Williams. His university years were interrupted by a call to duty to serve in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict in Japan, China, and the Philippines aboard the USS Essex as an aviation electrician. Following his honorable discharge, he and his bride returned to Tennessee Tech then made their home in Chattanooga where he worked for Welding Gas Products before moving to Nashville for six years to work as plant engineer for Farris Hardwood Lumber Company. Yearning to come back home to Chattanooga, Don took his dream job in 1965 as assistant industrial sales engineer for the Electric Power Board from which he retired in 1992 as superintendent of Commercial and Residential Power and Lighting.
Don enjoyed the time he spent serving the Lord at Northside Baptist Church and Red Bank Baptist Church in a variety of roles, including that of deacon at both churches. He unselfishly served others in matters large and small and was an active member of the Optimist Club for many years. During his professional career, he was a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society and served as president of the American Institute of Plant Engineers. In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife throughout the U.S. and abroad, fishing with his older brother Charles and rounds of golf with his buddies at Rivermont and Valleybrook. When not fishing or golfing you could often find Don in his home workshop turning out future family heirlooms. He was a quiet and kind man who was devoted to his family and was loved deeply by them in return.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, and his beloved brothers, Charles, Harry, and Jack Heard.
He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Mary Margaret Heard, daughters, Donna (Tom) Dodson and Janelle (Mike) Stevenson, his sister-in-law, Hazel Heard, his grandchildren, Emily Stoddard, Doug Dodson, Amanda Ohnemus, Pamela Witchey, and Patricia Freeman, and seven great-grandchildren, and nephews, Chris Heard and Steve Heard.
Visitation with the family will be on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 1-3 p.m. at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tn., followed by a funeral service at 3 p.m. with Dr. Fred Steelman and Reverend Bill Harvey officiating. The graveside service will follow immediately thereafter at Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Hall Sunday School Class of Red Bank Baptist Church.
The family appreciates the care and compassion shown by the staffs of Memorial Hospital North, Erlanger Hospital, Siskin Hospital for Rehabilitation and Hospice Care Center during his illness. In addition, a special thanks to Wanda and Carol for their caregiving during his confinements.
Contributions in Don's memory may be made to the Red Bank Baptist Church World Mission fund or Building fund.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.
Donald Heard