Col. George E. Heifner

Col. George E. Heifner, 94, of Ooltewah, TN, (a former resident of Ruskin, FL), passed away Monday, March 26, 2012. He was the son of the late Asa and Elsye Shuemaker Heifner and was also preceded in death by his wife Norma Heifner in 2005 and his brother Col. Charles R. Heifner. He was a retired Colonel from the United States Air force with 30 years of service as a pilot, serving during W.W. II, Korea and Vietnam. Colonel Heifner flew C-46's over the Hump in China during W.W. II and B-52's in Guam during the Vietnam War. In his final years he was with the Strategic Air Command also known as SAC. While serving in the Strategic Air Command, he flew B-52's armed with nuclear weapons during the Cuban Missile Crisis. With his targets already selected during the crisis, the SAC waited further orders from the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy on if and when to strike. He was a member of the Air Force Pilots Association and the Hump Pilots Association. Survivors include his son, Steve (Amy) Heifner, Marietta, GA; two daughters, Tonya (Rod) Dunkel and Carol (David) Floyd all of Ooltewah, TN; four grandchildren, John, Morgan, Abby and Andrea. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel. The body will shipped to Ruskin, Florida for burial on Saturday. Arrangements are by the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 7414 Old Lee Highway.