Dr. Willie H. Heitman peacefully passed into heaven on Monday, November 22, 2021 at the age of 89. Raised in Rosenberg and residing in Missouri City and then Sugar Land, Dr. Heitman was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandad, great-granddad, friend and dentist. He was born on September 25, 1932 in Kenney, Texas to Willie and Hildegard Heitman, the youngest of three sons.
Dr. Heitman graduated from Lamar high school in Rosenberg in 1951, then studied undergraduate pre-dental at Baylor University in Waco. In 1953 he was drafted into the US Army and served overseas in Korea and Japan until 1955. He resumed his classes at Baylor and graduated in 1957 and was awarded his Doctorate of Dental Surgery in 1961 from the University of Texas Dental School in Houston. He had a successful dental career in Stafford, TX for over 30 years and served on the Fort Bend Independent School Board (president two out of six years), and was on the Advisory Council for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He was an avid golfer and outdoorsman, and enjoyed ranching, hunting, and fishing. He and his wife, Fairy were longtime members of Sugar Creek Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and served in the nursing home ministry. He also volunteered with his sister-in-law Carolyn Tarver’s Project SMILE. He loved his family and friends and led by example how to live a God-honoring and successful life.
He loved to travel and had been to many countries, including Israel, Australia, England, Germany, Italy, France, Hungary, Greece, Africa, Turkey, Canada, and Mexico. He visited all 50 United States. After retiring Dr. and Mrs. Heitman went on over 20 medical mission trips, providing relief and care to patients in Russia, Romania, and Honduras, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
Dr. Heitman is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Kenneth Heitman and Arthur (Jack) Heitman and wife Barbara, and Fairy, his loving wife of almost 49 years. His survivors are his son Keith Heitman and wife Jane of Sugar Land, son Kerry Heitman and wife Denise of Edmond, OK, and daughter Karen Withrow and husband Paul of Sugar Land; grandchildren Cody Heitman and wife Bri of Stafford, Candace Heitman of the Woodlands, TX, Kelsie Krizek and husband Layne of Wichita, KS, Katie Juarez and husband Christian of Edmond, OK, Kellie Heitman of Edmond, OK, Jessica Hawkins and husband Nick of Killeen, TX, Ben Withrow and wife Ashlyn of Dallas, TX, Will Withrow and wife Catherine of Houston, TX; great-grandchildren Ryan and Robin Heitman, Kinsley, Hudson and River Krizek, and Nora Juarez. Other survivors include family in New Iberia and Lafayette, LA and nieces and nephews in Rosenberg, Richmond and West Columbia, TX and many friends.
Friends are invited to a visitation with the family from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, December 1, in the chapel of Sugar Creek Baptist Church, 13223 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land.
A funeral service and Celebration of Willie’s Life will immediately follow the visitation, also at Sugar Creek Baptist Church, with a reception to follow.
Interment will be held at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Rosenberg.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Bethel Ministry for Project SMILE, PO Box 280, Stafford, TX 77477.
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Bethel Ministry for Project SMILEPO Box 280, Stafford, Texas 77477
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