Irving Maxwell Heath

In Fairfax, Virginia on Thursday, December 22, 2016, Irving Maxwell Heath at the age of ninety-eight, passed from his temporary earthly home to join his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in his eternal home in heaven. Irv, as he preferred to be called, was born October 15, 1918 in Somerville, Massachusetts to Methodist minister Reverend George E. Heath and his wife Marion. He was the youngest of four children and grew up mostly in Worcester, Massachusetts with his two brothers, Gordon and Arnold, and his beloved sister Evelyn (Hap).
As a preacher’s kid he trained out to Methodist affiliated DePauw University for college in Greencastle, Indiana sight unseen where he met his future wife, Rachel Waltz, from Arcadia, Indiana during his freshman year. Irv was a history major and a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity while at DPU. He graduated from DePauw in 1941 and married Rachel on September 5, 1942 in Watertown, New York, officiated by his father, as he began officer’s training school with the rank of 1st Lieutenant with the United States Army. He was deployed as a Sherman tank commander in the 4th Armored Division, 35th Battalion under Bradley and Patton, in the European theater during World War II. Irv saw a lot of action from the beaches of Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge. He was in five campaigns in Europe. He was awarded several medals including two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. After the war he returned to Noblesville, Indiana in 1946 and became a partner with Bert Cresson in the Cresson and Heath Insurance Agency which specialized in general home, fire and car insurance from which he retired in 1981. He worked as a realtor for awhile in his retirement.
Irv loved the small town feel and look of Noblesville and was often called “Mr. Noblesville” during his assisted living experience at Riverwalk Commons from 2010-2014 because of his amazing civic work as a community activist and volunteer for many boards and committees over the years. He was a member of the Board of the Kikthawenund Council of the Boy Scouts of America for 16 years and a Boy Scout Master for 6 years, served two terms on the Board of Trustees of DePauw University receiving a Distinguished Alumnus award a few years ago, was a Free Mason, a 50 + year member and past president of the Noblesville Lions Club, a member of Noblesville First United Methodist Church and served on its Board of Trustees and was active in other church affairs during his life in Noblesville, and received the “Sagamore of the Wabash” award from Indiana Governor O’Bannon in 2001 as a distinguished Hoosier. Other community endeavors included secretary/treasurer of the Independent Insurance Agents of Hamilton County for 23 years (retired in 1981), on the Board of Directors of the United Way Fund, one of the founders of the Boys Club (later Boys and Girls Club) of Noblesville in 1950 and served as its president for 2 years and secretary of the Board for 41 years (he received several distinguished service awards from the club), active in the Hamilton County Historical Society and served as treasurer for 20 years and lead efforts to upgrade the Hamilton County Jail and Sheriff’s Residence on the Courthouse Square into county museums, helped found the Cancer Services of Hamilton County in 1986 and served as their treasurer for many years, helped to form an emergency shelter for Noblesville, was a lifelong member of the Fifty Club served as its secretary/treasurer for 18 years, was a member of the Noblesville Adult Swim Team the NASTIs for 20 years and won hundreds of state and national medals, an active member of the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce including the Design Committee of Main Street, a 40 year member of the American Legion Post #45 of Noblesville, and a member of the Republican Party where he was precinct chairman for 18 years. He was selected as Grand Marshal for the Noblesville 4th of July parade in 2000. Irv’s passions were faith, family, and freedom related.
After the death of his wife Rachel in 2010 (they had been married 68 years at the time), then the death of his nearby daughter Ann in 2013, Irv requested in 2014 to move to Winchester, Virginia where his middle daughter Marilyn, who is a physical therapist, and her physician husband Peter live. He relocated again after a few months to nearby Fairfax, Virginia to the Sunrise Assisted Living Community at George Mason, which he considered “home”.
Irv loved animals, the out-of-doors, various sports but especially the Noblesville Millers basketball team and the Indianapolis Pacers and Colts, to write and tell stories, take photographs and document the history of Noblesville and his family, spoke to many grade school and high school students concerning his WWII involvement, enjoyed reading, and writing frequent letters to his family and friends. The highlight with his family was the Heath Family Reunion every 5 years for the last several decades where he basked in his role of patriarch. In 2014 before his move to Virginia he was selected to be on one of the Honor Flights to Washington, DC to see the WWII memorial and other sights. It was an unforgettable memory, along with initially being present for the dedication of the memorial in 2004.
Irv and Rachel had three children: Ann Heath Gray (Dick) who passed away in 2013, Marilyn Heath (Peter Johnson), and Ralph (Al) Heath. He leaves behind six grandchildren (Justin Gray (Laura), Jenna Perdue (Tyler), Grant and Bryce Johnson, and Berkley and Masha Heath) and three great grandchildren (Connor and Charlotte Ann Gray and Reid Maxwell Perdue who was born this past fall and received Irv’s middle name). He is also survived by many nieces,
nephews, and close friends. All of Irv’s siblings preceded him in death.
Irv has run the race well that God placed before him (Hebrews 12:1). One can hear the celebration in heaven as the Lord says “well done, good and faithful servant”. He has left an immeasurable legacy and will be missed by many.
A small memorial service will be performed in Fairfax, Virginia at his Sunrise home in January. The Noblesville memorial service will be at the First United Methodist Church, Noblesville, Indiana, on May 6, 2017 at 11:00 AM when the weather will allow more predictable travel.
Condolences can be sent to his daughter Marilyn in Winchester, Virginia at 221 Roszel Road 22601 and/or to his son Al Heath at 37 Stone Tree Road, Arrowsic, ME 04530. If desired, contributions can be given to any of the organizations that Irv participated in throughout his life.