Air Force pilot Ervin Heilman passes away

DOWNEY - Services will be held next week for Downey resident Ervin Heilman.He was born Feb. 8, 1919 in Galesburg, Kans., to Ralph and Grace. In his school years he attended a two-room grade school, and graduated from Chanute High School and Chanute College. He became a licensed private pilot prior to World War II. He was drafted into service in August 1941 and graduated from Airplane Mechanic School Shepherd Field, Tex. While at Shepherd he was accepted for aviation cadet training. Heilman completed cadet flying Feb. 6, 1943 and served as a bomber pilot for the remainder of the war. He was released from active duty in 1947 and then served 20-plus years in the reserves before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force. He married his wife, Winifred, who passed away June 27, 2009 after 66 years of marriage. Services will be held Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. at Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary. Interment will be at Riverside National Cemetery with full military honors.

********** Published: October 14, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 26