Ralph Heavrin

Ralph Dennis Heavrin 68 of Goodyear Heights beloved husband devoted father and dearest grandfather brother friend and neighbor passed away at Hospice and Palliative Care of Visiting Nurse Service - Justin T. Rogers Care Center in Fairlawn Ohio. Born November 13 1941 in Akron OH he was the 2nd of 4 sons of the late George A. and Agnes Carolyn Schaaf Heavrin. A graduate of Annunciation Elementery School Chas. Borromeo Seminary High School in Wickcliffe OH Chas. Borromeo College he also attended Old Dominion and the University of Akron. Ralph was very proud and rightfully so of his achievements in Goodyear Tire and Rubber Apprenticeship Program as well as the Goodyear Engineering Squadron Program. He was the Litchfield Medal Apprentice Award recipient and Litchfield Engineering Squadron recipient. Ralph retired from Goodyear with 35 ½ yrs. Service with his last position being a Senior Order Analyst Expeditor in the Engineering Service Dept. He loved his colleagues and the friendships formed there. His years at Goodyear were happy ones. While at the University of Akron he was initiated into the honorary Kappa Delta Pi. It is almost impossible to sum up the essence of a person; one can list interests and achievements. But with Ralph the list of wonderful attributes is very long and include integrity honesty holding strong religious beliefs being highly intelligent and precise in everything he did showing generosity and charity fun and funny a very loyal friend and caring neighbor but above all else not at all pretentious. As unassuming as was his personality he had outstanding mechanical and electrical skills loved working on cars especially the Escort that he and Dennis rebuilt together; he could fix just about anything. Ralph was in the Navy for 4 ½ yrs serving on the naval carrier U.S.S. Randolph in the Mediterranean Fleet during the Vietnam War. This resulted in lifelong friendships with his fellow electronic technicians. He is preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws the late Russell W. and Stella L. Gates; 2 brothers Paul and Michael L. Heavrin; and a daughter Christine Marie Heavrin; and the rest of his 'furry family'. Ralph will be dearly missed by his adoring wife of 26 years Susan 'Sue' M. Gates-Heavrin of Akron; 3 loving children Carrie A. Heavrin of Garfield Hts Dennis A. (Trisha Laws) Heavrin of DeSoto IL and Megan-Elizabeth M. (Zack Lawrence) Heavrin of Akron; 2 greatly loved grandchildren Aeon K. McCollum of Sharon Center and Kallie Grace Heavrin of DeSoto IL; brother Gregory W. Heavrin of Akron; and his 'pretty girl' Gracie Lee of Fluff his Bichon angel. Ralph's family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Dr. Brenda S. Buis (and husband Terry) the entire staff of Western Reserve Cardiology Dr. Mubashir Marquinez and Rehman and staff especially Chris Julia and Kim Dr. John Petrus Amy and Darlene the caring hands and hearts of the staff of Akron General Hospital 5400 Department and Hospice and the Hereditary Cancers Research team of Akron Children's Hospital. From Sue: 'I realize that the expression such a good man is an understatement but my Ralphie was truly everything one would want in a husband and father of one's children. I was truly blessed to be the love of his life his wife and best friend. It was a privilege to have him in my life. It is now my mission to support Hereditary Cancer research so that other families don't have the added monster of UNKNOWN along with the diagnosis of cancer. Hospice gave this man of quiet dignity a peaceful and pain-free end of life on Earth a place to go where he and our family were met and cared for with love and compassion.' A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday January 9 2010 at Hummel Funeral Home 500 E. Exchange St Akron. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday for one hour prior to the service from 10:00-11:00 AM. Inurnment will take place at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Office of Catholic Education 1404 E. 9th. St Cleveland OH 44114 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis TN 38105-1942.