Mr. James B. Heller

COLUMBIA - A Memorial Mass to celebrate the life of James B. Heller Jr., 88, will be held at 12:00 noon, Friday, March 23, 2012, at St. John Neumann Church, with inurnment in Fort Jackson National Cemetery on Monday, March 26, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. Dunbar Funeral Home, Northeast Chapel, is assisting the family. Mr. Heller, formerly of Pottsville, PA, died Saturday, March 10, 2012, after a long illness. Born April 1, 1923 in Pottsville, PA, he was the son of the late Dr. James B. Heller and Martha Cole Heller. He attended the Pottsville Schools, Greenbrier Military School (VA) and graduated from the Haverford School, Haverford, PA, where he was a four sport letterman and was awarded a football scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. However, he entered World War II and was a combat medic, serving in Europe, most notably the Battle of the Bulge. He was also called back into service during the Korean War and worked at the Valley Forge Army Hospital in Phoenixville, PA. A registered stocks and bonds broker, he started at Thompson and McKinnon, Tampa, FL, and then returned to Pottsville to manage the local office of Parrish and Co. and W.H. Newbold's. He was a 50-year member of the Pottsville Lions and a former city councilman. An accomplished golfer and lifelong member of the Schuylkill Country Club, Orwigsburg, PA, he held every title, junior through senior. Surviving are his wife of over 61 years, Patricia Raring Heller; son, James B. Heller IV and his wife, Jeannie, all of Columbia; daughter, Christine Dougherty and her husband, James, of Baltimore, MD.; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Dr. Frederick K. Heller and Dr. Morgan S. Heller. The family would like to thank the staff at Life Care of Columbia for all their help and support for many years. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. John Neumann Church, 100 Polo Road, Columbia, SC 29223, the American Red Cross, 2751 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or Oliver Gospel Mission, PO Box 7791, Columbia, SC 29202.