Paul Heppard
Saturday
24
June

Visitation at Funeral Home

9:30 am - 11:00 am
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Kelley Funeral Home
125 Pitman Ave.
Pitman, New Jersey, United States
Saturday
24
June

Funeral Service

11:00 am
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Kelley Funeral Home
125 Pitman Ave.
Pitman, New Jersey, United States

Final Resting Place

Hillcrest Memorial Park
PO Box 233
Pitman, New Jersey, United States

Obituary of Paul Heppard

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Paul Heppard, long a resident of Pitman, NJ, passed away peacefully at the Evergreens Continuing Care Community in Moorestown, NJ on Tuesday, June 20th. He was 94. Survived by sons Jeffrey (Judy) of Mount Laurel and Philip (Janet) of Katy, Texas, he was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Jane Ann Heppard. He also leaves two granddaughters, three grandsons and one great grandchild to honor his memory. Paul was born in Philadelphia in 1923 to Natalie and Frederick Heppard and although he spent many years in Middle River, Maryland, and Jensen Beach, Florida, Pitman was always home. He was a proud graduate of Pitman High School and of the last graduating class of Franklin and Marshall Academy in Lancaster, PA. He served his country in the Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946 as a pilot of C-46 and C-47 transports serving in China and the Pacific, and was part of the American occupation of Japan. His final duty was as pilot for Major General Roscoe Woodruff, commander of I Corps, and although Paul was offered a commission as an officer by General Woodruff he decided to return home. His devotion to his mother, Natalie Heppard and family, is clearly evident in his many letters home during the war years. His siblings Fred Heppard and Ruth Willoughby have predeceased him. Paul retired from Campbell Soup as a QC manager in 1986 and had also worked earlier for GTE, Boeing and the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company. He was always a loyal and diligent employee who gave his all every day. Following retirement he and Jane became world travelers, visiting every continent. He is a member of the Pitman High School Hall of Fame in recognition of his career as a sprinter and jumper on the Pitman track teams of 1939-42. His career at PHS culminated in winning both the 100 yard and 220 yard sprints at the 1942 state track meet, which was a key part of Pitman's first ever state championship. Later while running with Franklin and Marshall he placed at the National Interscholastic Indoor Championship in the 60 yard dash and 880 yard relay. Paul met his future wife, Jane Ann, in 1947 when he was part of his good friend Russ Hamilton's wedding party. Russ was marrying June Hamilton, no relation, in Roslyn, NY, and June's best friend was Jane. Paul and Jane fell in love immediately and remained a deeply loving couple all their lives after their marriage on July 2, 1949. Paul devoted the last ten years of his life taking care of Jane as she declined while suffering from growing dementia. Both had a deep and unquestioning faith and attended Methodist churches in Pitman, Middle River and Jensen Beach all their lives. Friends and family may gather at the Kelley Funeral Home, Pitman, NJ for a visitation at 9:30 followed by a funeral service at 11 AM on Saturday, June 24. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Pitman United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.
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