Josiah S. Heal, age 97, of Mystic passed away at the Mystic Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center on December 9, 2012 after a short illness.
He was born March 30, 1915 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the son of the late Frederick Hazen Heal and Alice Spaulding. He lived in Hingham, MA and graduated from Thayer Academy, Braintree, MA in 1933 and from MIT in 1937 with a degree in Business Administration and Mechanical Engineering.
He married Marion Elizabeth Schroeder of East Chicago, IL on January 8, 1938.
During World War II he was employed as an industrial engineer at Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank, CA. In 1942 he was send to the Lockheed Overseas Base in Northern Ireland as supervisor of Production Control where allied planes were modified and repaired. In 1944 he returned to CA where he worked in modifying planes being sent to the Far East.
Mr. Heal returned to Hingham in 1945 and was employed as Assistant to the President at Spaulding Moss Co., Boston, MA. The business became Semco Industries, and he retired as Treasurer in 1976.
Over the years Mr. Heal played the cello in civic orchestras in Hingham and Sarasota, FL. He often sang in choirs and chorals in Hingham, Longboat Key,FL, Acton, ME and Old Mystic, CT. In later years he joined the Westerly Songbirds from Westerly, RI and gave many concerts at Mystic Manor where his wife was a resident.
He enjoyed sailing, hiking, and camping ans was a scoutmaster in Hingham and Sarasota. House construction was a long time interest, and he built his own home in Hingham in 1947. He maintained retirement residences at Longboat Key, FL and Acton ME where he did extensive renovations.
Mr. Heal was active with his MIT class and secretary for many years. The last class reunion he attended was his 65th. He enjoyed traveling and went to Europe several times, Alaska, Mexico and a return trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He enjoyed many family vacations driving around the country, visiting family and camping at national parks.
He is survived by a son Josiah S. Heal, Jr. and his wife Arlene of Merrifield, MN, a daughter Joyce H. Payer and her friend Robert Farrell of Stonington, CT; five grandchildren, R. Briggs Payer and his wife Shelly of Pawcatuck, CT, Christopher Payer and his wife Beth of Greenfield Center, NY, Tiffany Heal and her husband Aitaly Chiketaev of Crystal Lake, IL, Scott Peters and his wife Christine of Duluth, MN, Tracy King and her husband Karl of Proctor, MN; and fourteen great-grandchildren,Hudson,Ella, Hadley, Liam, Boston, Dastan, Darika, Madeline, Claire, Luke, Andrew,Nathanael, Ava and Eli. A sister Susan Heal of Dorchester, MA and his special friend Rose Asselin of Westerly, RI also survive him.
Marion, his wife of 59 years, a sister Marie H. McCormick of Miami, FL and a son-in-law Raymond Payer of Stonington, CT predeceased him.
A Funeral Service will be held Monday, December 17th, 2012, at 11:00am at the Old Mystic United Methodist Church in Old Mystic, CT. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic. The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic, CT is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Old Mystic United Methodist Church, 44 Main St., Old Mystic CT 06372.
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