David Penney Heering

Major David P. Heering, USMC retired, passed away on Friday, September 12, 2014. He was born on April 16, 1929 in Grand Rapids Michigan to Paul and Lilyanne Heering. He graduated from Creston High School and one week later enlisted in the US Marine Corps. Two years later he was accepted to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. After graduating in 1953, he returned to the Corps and did tours in Korea and Vietnam. He retired in 1972 and began to pursue his love of flying. Over the next 30 years he logged over 6,200 hours flying, from crop dusting in central CA to teaching others to fly. He logged a total of 5289 hours as a flight instructor, mostly from providing instrument rating instruction to pilots all over the US. He was a card carrying MENSA member and loved challenges of the mind. He enjoyed playing tennis and bowling.

In 1951 (and against USNA policy) he married the girl next door and love of his life, Joanne (Eleanor) Houser. Together they lived the typical military life, transferring back and forth from the east coast to the west coast, finally settling in Carlsbad in 1968. He is survived by Joanne, his wife of 63 years, his children Sandra Alford (David), Lori Olsen (Bill), David Heering (Susan) and Jeri Beauregard. He was blessed with ten grandchildren; Leslie, Melissa and David Alford, Nick and Ashley Olsen, Danika, Samantha, and Kailey Heering and Casey and Adam Thayer, along with 12 great grandchildren.

A graveside service and celebration of life is planned for 2:30 pm Friday, October 3rd at Eternal Hills.

Arrangements are under the direction of Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Mortuary, and Crematory, Oceanside, California.