William E. Heller

1916 - 2009

William E. Heller, 92, of Roanoke, Va., passed away February 26, 2009. Born in 1916 in Chicago, Ill., he grew up as a rowdy young man. After high school, his parents sent him to California, where he lived with an aunt and worked in a machine shop. He returned to Chicago after three years and attended Illinois Institute of Technology, graduated and became a mechanical engineer. In 1941, he married Babette S. Heller. She stayed in Chicago with their first son, during World War II, while he joined the military and served in the Pacific where he flew over 30 combat missions. After World War II, they had a second son. William went on to have a career in the Air Force, in which he and Babette developed a love for traveling. Before and after serving in the military, he worked for several corporations in the production of mining equipment, gas-turbine engines and oil-drilling equipment. Babette passed away in 2003. He is survived by his son, William T., Heller; daughter-inIaw, Johann Heller, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; and grandchildren, Elizabeth Yoho, David Heller, Paul Heller; and 11 greatgrandchildren, also in Ohio. In Roanoke, he is survived by his son, Michael A. Heller; daughter-in-law, Rebecca A. Heller; and grandchildren, Benjamin Edward Heller and Emily Connelly. He was preceded in death by a greatgrandson, Mason Crist Heller. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Roanoke College Library by giving to the William and Babette Heller Memorial Fund at Roanoke College, Resources Development, 221 College Lane, Salem, Va. 24153. Services will be private in Arlington National Cemetery. Arrangements are by Oakey's South Chapel. 540-989-3131.