HEWARD, Robert B.

Owens Livingston Mortuary, Holbrook, Arizona Robert B. Heward (January 17, 1924 - March 7, 2010) Robert B. Heward died early Sunday morning on March 7, 2010 in Mesa, Arizona. He was 86 years old. His funeral is scheduled to begin 11:00 A.M., Saturday, March 13, 2010 at the Holbrook Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Holbrook, Arizona where a public visitation will begin 1 hour prior. The concluding service and interment will follow at the Holbrook Cemetery. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Robert B. Heward, 1924 - 2010, 86, born in Snowflake and a longtime resident of Holbrook, died peacefully in his sleep around midnight on Sunday March 7, 2010, at his winter residence in Mesa, Arizona, following a gradual decline in his health. He was the first child and only son of Glen B. Heward and Helen Smith Heward, and had two sisters, Orma Abbott, of Mesa and Dorothy Williams, of Holbrook. He also was very close with his younger uncle, Ronnie Heward, deceased, who was more like a brother to him than an uncle. He attended High School in Holbrook, graduating in 1941, and briefly attended the University of Arizona in Tucson. When World War II broke out, he went to work at the Los Angeles Shipyards for a few months, until he was drafted into the Army, becoming part of the Tank Destroyers Battalion 661. He served at Camp Hood, Texas and later at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, before being sent to the Phillipines and then to Japan, where he spent nearly a year as part of the Occupation. On his first furlough in July of 1943, he married his high school sweetheart, Donalee Leopold, and their first child, Gloria, was born 13 months later in Temple, Texas, while stationed at Camp Hood. When he returned home to Holbrook, he went to work at Heward Motor Company, his father's automobile dealership. It wasn't long before four more children - all boys - were born: David, Christopher, Edward and Brad. In 1950, they built their home on Buffalo Street in downtown Holbrook, where they continued to reside ever since, though recently spending Winters in Mesa. Mr. Heward was very active in the Town of Holbrook's affairs. He became a member of the 20/30 club, a Charter member of the Elks Club in Winslow, later transferring to Holbrook, a member of the American Legion, was a volunteer fireman for 15 years, and also served on the Holbrook City Council. Later, he was appointed to the State Oil & Gas Commission for several years, and was also a very active participant in the Holbrook Chamber of Commerce and Community Action Now. Mr. Heward is survived by Donalee, his wife of 67 years, four of his five children, 11 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. His funeral will be held on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at the LDS Church in Holbrook, with the viewing beginning at 10 A.M., and the funeral service beginning at 11 A.M. He will be buried in the family plot near his parents at the Holbrook Memorial Cemetery. Published in The Arizona Republic on March 10, 2010