Col. Shirley R. Heinze

Colonel Shirley Rowell Heinze died peacefully on Saturday, the 14th of February 2015, at age 90, after a long and illustrious career in the Armed Services. She was a native Houstonian, graduating from Reagan High School and then Rice University. Upon her retirement, she returned home to Houston to care for her mother and enjoy being near her nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her sister, Joyce Wylie of Houston; niece, Joan Wolfinger and her husband, David of Katy; and nephews, William E. Wylie of Tyler and Dr. Roy Wylie of Houston. She is also survived by three great-nieces and a great-nephew: Laura Wylie Hickerson, her husband Kevin, and son Corey of Tyler; Dr. Mark Wylie, his wife Kristen, and daughters Katherine Ann and Caroline Joyce of Fort Worth; Jennifer Wolfinger Turner, her husband Rick and son Colby of Katy; and Melissa Wolfinger Meyer, her husband Tom and daughter Lexy of Katy.

During her military career (1951-1981), Colonel Heinze was somewhat of a “pioneer” for women in the Army. She was among the few women officers selected to establish a woman officer recruiting program and was the first woman assigned to ROTC duty as Assistant Professor of Military Science & Tactics at Cornell University. Colonel Heinze was one of the first women officers to be assigned to the US Army Vietnam, where she developed the special combat soldier promotion system adopted by the Department of the Army. She was also one of the first two women to attend the Army War College, graduating in 1969.

As Commander of the US WAC Center & School at Ft. McClellan, AL, Colonel Heinze raised the standards for basic training for women, and assisted the US Military Academy at West Point in facilitating the enrollment of women into the Academy. She was the first woman officer to be assigned as Chief of Staff of a “major” Army command – the US Army Recruiting Command, Ft. Sheridan, IL and was the first woman to command a Sector of the DOD Military Entrance Processing Command.

Colonel Heinze was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, National Guard Meritorious Service Award, Legion of Merit (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), and Army Commendation Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), RVN Campaign Medal (3 campaigns), and Vietnam Service Medal, and, as a civilian consultant following retirement, the Commander’s Award for Public Service.

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to Janice Hoffman of Excel Hospice Care, and the staff of The Abbey at Westminster Plaza for their constant concern and care for Shirley during her stay at The Abbey, and the special care given at the end.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from eleven o’clock in the morning until noon on Friday, the 20th of February, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

Interment is to follow at half-past three o’clock in the afternoon, at Memory Gardens of Edna Cemetery, 204 Buffalo Street in Edna, where military honors by the United States Army are to be rendered.

In lieu of customary remembrances, donations may be directed to the U.S. Army Women’s Foundation, P.O. BOX 5030, Fort Lee, VA, 23801; the U.S. Army Women’s Museum at Ft. Lee, 2100 A Ave, Fort Lee, VA 23801; or to the charity of your choice.