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Rev. William D. Heaton

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | October 23, 2023

Rev. William D. Heaton, age 98 of Greenock, passed away on Monday, October 23, 2023 in UPMC Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh. Born August 31, 1925 in Osceola Mills, he was a son of the late Harry T. and Mary Grace (Burns) Heaton. He is survived by his loving wife, Ella Louise (Allen) Heaton, and his nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Robert E. Heaton.

William served in the South Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II with the 8th Fighter Control Squadron of the 5th Army Air Corps. Following the war, he attended Robert Morris University, earning a degree in business administration and accounting. While employed by the Crawford Furniture Manufacturing Corp. at their New Bethlehem plant, he attended the New Bethlehem First Methodist Church where he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and received his call into full-time Christian ministry. While residing in New Bethlehem, William served on the Colonel Drake Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

William graduated from Asbury University in Wilmore, KY with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and religion. He then attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore from one year, then went on to finish his theological education at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.

While in Kentucky, William served as pastor of the Hazel Green Charge of the Methodist Church in the mountains of eastern part of the state. He then served the Owenton First United Methodist Church in Owenton, KY. Also at that time he conducted revival services in Kentucky and Ohio. While there, he also pursued studies in evangelism with the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church.

Returning to the Western Pennsylvania Conference, he served churches at the Monongahela Circuit, the Curllsville Charge, the Mary S. Brown United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh, the Highland Avenue United Methodist Church in Pitcarin, the Jenny Lind/Shoemaker United Methodist Churches in McKeesport, and the McKeesport Hope/Belle Chapel United Methodist Churches. William retired from the active ministry in June of 1992.

While a member of the Western Pennsylvania Conference, he served as Vice Chairman of the Conference Board of Stewardship and on the former Pittsburgh East Board of Evangelism, and also served on several sub-district offices. Following retirement, William served the Highland Grove United Methodist Church in McKeesport as interim pastor then as associate pastor at the First United Methodist Church of McKeesport.

Following his years of pastoral ministry, he was employed by the Country Meadows Retirement Center at the South Hills Campus in Pittsburgh as chaplain of their Alzheimer’s unit. He was then hired by UPMC McKeesport as their Director of the Pastoral Care Department. That position was held until his 80th birthday when he and his wife Ella decided to (as Bill put it his eloquent fashion) “enjoy the remainder of life’s journey at a retired pace conducive to retired persons.” William and Ella attended Central Highlands Community Methodist Church.

Friends will be received in the Daniel F. Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory, 4504 Walnut St., Versailles Borough, McKeesport, PA 15132 (412-678-3454) on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 from 2 PM to 4 PM and 6 PM to 8 PM. Also, visitation will be held at his church, Central Highlands Community Methodist Church, Elizabeth Twp., on Thursday, October 26, 2023 from 9:30 AM until the time of his Funeral Service at 11 AM with Rev. Adam Stump officiating. If going to the funeral service, please go directly to the church as there will be no funeral procession on Thursday morning from the funeral home to the church. Procession and burial with military honors will follow to Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Elizabeth Twp. www.bekavacfuneralhome.com

Originally published October 23, 2023.

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