Edward Anthony Heiner, 93, of Lillian died Saturday, March 10, 2012. He had two sisters and a younger brother; the late Dorothy Sanpetrino, Whiting, N.J., the late Mildred Zelek, Lillian, and Harold Heiner, Piqua, Ohio.
Ed married the late Florence Elizabeth Baerst in May 1942. He and Florence separated, and in December 1961 he married the late Barbara Heiner. They retired in Lillian in 1981. From the time he was a young boy, Ed was interested in both machines and model building. He worked in his father’s machine shop growing up and learned many tricks of the trade.
He also built and competed in gasoline model ship and model airplane events. The day he was given his solo flight to get his pilot's license, he flew his aircraft and circled the Empire State building. He was properly scolded when he landed, but they awarded him his license anyway. During his career, his name was present on a half a dozen patents, both original and shared. He always enjoyed spending time in his shop, creating new inventions and just plain “tinkering.” He was also fond of getting together with friends to play cards or just to enjoy their company. Ed was a World War II Navy veteran.
He was predeceased by his daughters, Dolores Duffy of Saddlebrook, N.J., Joan Coates, Phoenix, Ariz., Shelia Prohaski, Lillian, and Ann Morse of Albany, N.Y. He is survived by his brother, Hal (Estelle), his children: Tony (Lori)Heiner, Reno, Nev., Patricia (Gary) Shaskin, East Hartford, Conn., Edward Heiner Jr., Nashua, N.H., and Thomas(Rebecca) Heiner, Rowlett, Texas; and son-in-law, George Prohaski, Lillian. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. A grave side memorial service will be March 29 at 2 p.m. at John J. Ferry and Sons Funeral Home in Meriden, Conn.
