Retired Air Force Maj. Lewis Shaffer Heller Jr. was born in Chicago, Ill., Feb. 17, 1939.
His family moved to Southern California where he spent most of his life. He graduated from Alhambra High School, and then received his bachelor's degree from Chapman College in Orange, Calif.
His original life plan was to become a minister, but when he was eventually drafted in the early 1960s, he decided to join the U.S. Air Force, where he had an exemplary career for 20 years. He worked with mobile ground radarscope units and other operational units. He was involved in the development of the U.S. Air Force AWAC's surveillance system. He was stationed in various bases in the United States, served in Japan, Vietnam, and he and his family spent six years in Germany.
He retired in Austin, Texas, and worked as a night auditor for La Quinta Inns for 18 years. He loved to swim, work as a lifeguard, and play basketball, baseball, and some racquetball. Football was more of a spectator sport for him. During his high school and college years, he was always active in various school activities, and wherever he was stationed, he was usually active with the youth programs or wherever they needed him. He liked to travel and loved the ocean. He loved old movies and was a television news junkie.
Lewis was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis Shaffer Heller Sr. and Pearl Fern Heller.
He was a good man with a strong Christian faith. He was loved, most especially by his granddaughter Sarah, and will be missed by all who will go on in this life without him.
He is survived by his wife, Diane Heller; his sons, Ken Heller and Jeffrey Heller; his daughter, Kimberly Heller; his grandchildren, Charlie, Kailee, Nicholas, and Sarah; his brother, Ted Heller and wife Clevie; his sisters, Joan Hamburg, Carrie Herzog, and Beatrice Castro and husband Joe; and nieces and nephews April, Marc, Anita, Aaron, Jeannette, Doug, and Danny.
His family moved to Southern California where he spent most of his life. He graduated from Alhambra High School, and then received his bachelor's degree from Chapman College in Orange, Calif.
His original life plan was to become a minister, but when he was eventually drafted in the early 1960s, he decided to join the U.S. Air Force, where he had an exemplary career for 20 years. He worked with mobile ground radarscope units and other operational units. He was involved in the development of the U.S. Air Force AWAC's surveillance system. He was stationed in various bases in the United States, served in Japan, Vietnam, and he and his family spent six years in Germany.
He retired in Austin, Texas, and worked as a night auditor for La Quinta Inns for 18 years. He loved to swim, work as a lifeguard, and play basketball, baseball, and some racquetball. Football was more of a spectator sport for him. During his high school and college years, he was always active in various school activities, and wherever he was stationed, he was usually active with the youth programs or wherever they needed him. He liked to travel and loved the ocean. He loved old movies and was a television news junkie.
Lewis was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis Shaffer Heller Sr. and Pearl Fern Heller.
He was a good man with a strong Christian faith. He was loved, most especially by his granddaughter Sarah, and will be missed by all who will go on in this life without him.
He is survived by his wife, Diane Heller; his sons, Ken Heller and Jeffrey Heller; his daughter, Kimberly Heller; his grandchildren, Charlie, Kailee, Nicholas, and Sarah; his brother, Ted Heller and wife Clevie; his sisters, Joan Hamburg, Carrie Herzog, and Beatrice Castro and husband Joe; and nieces and nephews April, Marc, Anita, Aaron, Jeannette, Doug, and Danny.
Retired Air Force Maj. Lewis Shaffer Heller Jr. was born in Chicago, Ill., Feb. 17, 1939.
His family moved to Southern California where he spent most of his life. He graduated from Alhambra High School, and then received his bachelor's degree from Chapman College in Orange, Calif.
His original life plan was to become a minister, but when he was eventually drafted in the early 1960s, he decided to join the U.S. Air Force, where he had an exemplary career for 20 years. He worked with mobile ground radarscope units and other operational units. He was involved in the development of the U.S. Air Force AWAC's surveillance system. He was stationed in various bases in the United States, served in Japan, Vietnam, and he and his family spent six years in Germany.
He retired in Austin, Texas, and worked as a night auditor for La Quinta Inns for 18 years. He loved to swim, work as a lifeguard, and play basketball, baseball, and some racquetball. Football was more of a spectator sport for him. During his high school and college years, he was always active in various school activities, and wherever he was stationed, he was usually active with the youth programs or wherever they needed him. He liked to travel and loved the ocean. He loved old movies and was a television news junkie.
Lewis was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis Shaffer Heller Sr. and Pearl Fern Heller.
He was a good man with a strong Christian faith. He was loved, most especially by his granddaughter Sarah, and will be missed by all who will go on in this life without him.
He is survived by his wife, Diane Heller; his sons, Ken Heller and Jeffrey Heller; his daughter, Kimberly Heller; his grandchildren, Charlie, Kailee, Nicholas, and Sarah; his brother, Ted Heller and wife Clevie; his sisters, Joan Hamburg, Carrie Herzog, and Beatrice Castro and husband Joe; and nieces and nephews April, Marc, Anita, Aaron, Jeannette, Doug, and Danny.
His family moved to Southern California where he spent most of his life. He graduated from Alhambra High School, and then received his bachelor's degree from Chapman College in Orange, Calif.
His original life plan was to become a minister, but when he was eventually drafted in the early 1960s, he decided to join the U.S. Air Force, where he had an exemplary career for 20 years. He worked with mobile ground radarscope units and other operational units. He was involved in the development of the U.S. Air Force AWAC's surveillance system. He was stationed in various bases in the United States, served in Japan, Vietnam, and he and his family spent six years in Germany.
He retired in Austin, Texas, and worked as a night auditor for La Quinta Inns for 18 years. He loved to swim, work as a lifeguard, and play basketball, baseball, and some racquetball. Football was more of a spectator sport for him. During his high school and college years, he was always active in various school activities, and wherever he was stationed, he was usually active with the youth programs or wherever they needed him. He liked to travel and loved the ocean. He loved old movies and was a television news junkie.
Lewis was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis Shaffer Heller Sr. and Pearl Fern Heller.
He was a good man with a strong Christian faith. He was loved, most especially by his granddaughter Sarah, and will be missed by all who will go on in this life without him.
He is survived by his wife, Diane Heller; his sons, Ken Heller and Jeffrey Heller; his daughter, Kimberly Heller; his grandchildren, Charlie, Kailee, Nicholas, and Sarah; his brother, Ted Heller and wife Clevie; his sisters, Joan Hamburg, Carrie Herzog, and Beatrice Castro and husband Joe; and nieces and nephews April, Marc, Anita, Aaron, Jeannette, Doug, and Danny.
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