Ernest Leroy Heaton, 89, died Nov. 26, 2012, at VNA Hospice House.
He was born in Holidays Cove, W.Va., and lived in Vero Beach since 1992, coming from Arizona.
He worked as an air conditioning service engineer for Weirton Steel Co. in Pennsylvania.
He was a veteran of the Army Air Forces during World War II as a staff sergeant and was one of the last survivors of the USAT Dorchester and knew the four immortal chaplains.
He was chairman emeritus of the Four Chaplains Monument, Sebastian.
He received the Legion of Honor Medal for the Chapel of the Four Chaplains for his work nationally and locally.
He was a board member for the Chapel of the Four Chaplains in Philadelphia.
He was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Jewish War Veterans and the Navy Armed Guard.
He was a Mason and a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge and past exalted ruler.
Survivors include his son, Terry Heaton of Missouri; daughter, Christy Flatniske of Ohio; friend, Edna Fox of New Hampshire.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Phyllis; second wife, Helen; and son, Richard K. Heaton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the VNA Hospice, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
An interfaith funeral service will be 10 a.m. Dec. 5 at the Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home with Rabbi Michael Birnholz, Pastor Andrew C. “Jack” Diehl and Chaplain Dave Newhardt officiating.
Military services will be conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. Graveside military honors will be Dec. 6 at the South Florida National Cemetery.
A guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.
