Don Heatwole

Don Franklin Heatwole, 99, passed away after a short illness, on August 26, 2007. He was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania on July 26, 1908 to Frank and Josephine Heatwole. Don arrived in Glendale, in January 1912, one month before Arizona statehood. His father moved the family from Pennsylvania to Glendale so he could join his brother in law as partners in Sine Brothers Hardware Store, now known as Sine Ace Hardware. He graduated from Glendale Grammar School and Glendale Union High School. In high school he excelled as a baseball player and continued to play semi- professional baseball with the Glendale Grays baseball team. After graduation he held a number of jobs including driving an oil truck for the Rio Grande Oil Co., now known as ARCO. He was a postman, Assistant City Clerk for the City of Glendale, accountant for the State of Arizona Highway Dept., and a bookkeeper for Brooks and Whitney Auto Parts and Western Auto Supply both local Glendale businesses. He found his true calling when, in 1936 he became a volunteer fireman for the Glendale Fire Dept. In 1951, his fellow volunteers elected him Fire Chief, and in 1956, he was appointed the first full time Fire Chief for the City of Glendale, a position he held until his retirement in 1973. After his retirement he went to work as Sine Hardware as an accountant and continued there until retirement at age 96. Don married his high school sweetheart Thelma Renick, on June 3, 1933. Don and Thelma were married for 58 years; Thelma passed away in June 1991. They had two sons Bruce, a retired teacher, of Glendale and David Margaret, a geologist living in Anchorage, Alaska. In addition, Don is survived by his grandson Michael Marieke of Anchorage, Alaska and grand-daughter, Sharon of Glendale. He is also survived by two great grandchildren Olive and Rennick Heatwole also of Anchorage. He is further survived by his sister Helene Heitmeyer of Mesa and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 2:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church, 7102 N. 58th Dr., Glendale, AZ 85301. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014 or the Glendale First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund. Menke Funeral & Cremation Center is handling arrangements 623 979-6451