Winifred Heilman, 93, passes away

DOWNEY - Winifred "Winnie" M. Kreiser Heilman, a Downey resident for 58 years, passed away June 27. She was 93.She was born in Sand Beach, Pa. on Oct. 14, 1915. She worked at the Hershey Chocolate Company for 12 years. In 1943, Heilman enlisted in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp. Later, she became an active WAC-Women Army Corp. member, reaching the rank of Corporal. She was assigned to serve as a receptionist at the Roswell Army Air Base Hospital in Roswell, N.M. As a volunteer, she passed out reading materials to patients in the hospital. It was at this time that a patient introduced Heilman to her future husband, Erv. Heilman was discharged when World War II ended in 1945. She returned to Pennsylvania and worked at the Hershey Chocolate Company for three more years. In May, 1947, she accepted Erv's marriage proposal and they were married in Kansas. They subsequently lived in Long Beach until December, 1950, when they made Downey their permanent home. Heilman worked in the Paramount and Compton school districts as a cook for nine years. In later years, she volunteered at the Los Angeles Air Base and helped decorate the Downey rose float. Heilman is survived by her husband, Erv; and several nieces and nephews. She was laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery on July 2.

********** Published: July 3, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 11