CWO4 Artie Arnold Heape Obituary (2021) - Beaufort, South Carolina

Artie Arnold Heape, CW4 US Army, Retired, of Beaufort died peacefully surrounded by family on June 18, 2021, at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. He was born November 20, 1926, in Port Wentworth, Georgia, the son of Artie Mitchell and Nila Hill Heape and married Belle Waters in Beaufort on February 23, 1947. He is preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Belle Waters Heape, his parents, a brother, Rudolph Hill Heape, a sister, Amelia Heape Waters, a granddaughter; Leslie Beale, a grandson; Derick Beale, and a great granddaughter; Kayla Halloran. He is survived by his four daughters; Anne (Gary) McKillips of Atlanta, GA, Lou Heape Beale of Beaufort, SC, Arlene (George) Hull of Beaufort, SC and Nila (John) Halloran of Lake Charles, LA; seven grandchildren; Lainie (Randy) Smith of Apex, NC, Heather Paulick of Beaufort, SC, Mathew (Heather) Paulick of Beaufort, SC, Tom (Jill) Halloran of Benton, LA, Nancy Joubert of Carthage, TX, Luke (Brinn) Paulick of Beaufort, SC and Cindy (James) Banker of Nashville, TN. He is also survived by five step-grandchildren; Robert (Tracy) McKillips of Eureka MO, David (Kristen) McKillips of Dallas, TX, Brian (Jen) McKillips of Oakland, CA, Katie Hull, and Geoff Hull both of San Antonio, TX. Additionally, he is survived by 31 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and 11 nieces and nephews. In 1944 he enlisted in the Army-Air Corps Reserve and was called to active duty in 1945 and assigned to Fort Bragg, NC where he attended Airborne school. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and then to the 11th Airborne Division for the Occupation of Japan. In 1946 he received an Honorable Discharge from the Army and returned to Beaufort where he became reacquainted with Belle Waters, (whom he had known all his life). On February 23, 1947, they were married in the Carteret Street Methodist Church parsonage and moved to Columbia, SC where he attended the University of South Carolina and played football for the Carolina Gamecocks until an injury ended his Gamecock football career. While attending college he joined the 108th Airborne Division (Reserve). In 1950 he was recalled to active duty, which began a world-wide adventure for Artie, his wife and the four daughters they would have. While re-assigned to the 82nd Division, he proudly recorded 87 successful jumps as a paratrooper. In 1955 he attended Helicopter Flight School, at Fort Rucker, AL where upon graduation he was to the rank of Warrant Officer. As a helicopter pilot and Aircraft Maintenance officer he served in Fort Sill, OK; Hanau and Pirmasens, Germany; White Sands Missile Range, NM; K-16 Army Base in Seoul, Korea; Fort Benning, GA; Vietnam, where he served with the 1st Cavalry Division; Munich, Germany; New Cumberland Army Depot, Harrisburg, PA; Seoul, Korea (again); Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD and Fort Lee, VA. In 1975 he retired from the US Army as Chief Warrant Officer Four and returned with his wife to Beaufort. Following his retirement from the US Army in 1975 he worked at Parker White Tool & Die Company for several years before retiring from that position. He and his wife Belle became very active in politics and served as delegates to the SC Republican convention. Artie was one of the founding members of the Republican Men's Federation and served for several years on the Beaufort County Election commission. He joined the Beaufort Lions Club in 1975 and served as President, Secretary, Tail Twister of that club. He also served on the SC multi-district Board of Directors. He was the recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow award, and in 1992 he was recognized as the Lion of the Year. He was inducted into the Lion's Club Hall of Fame, was the recipient of The International President Certificate of Appreciation and the District Governor Appreciation award. Recently he was awarded a 45 Year Chevron for his service to the Lion's Club. He was proud to have been chosen to travel with the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Artie was an avid bowler and bowled in leagues around the world from 1955 until 2020 when he resigned from the Senior League in Beaufort. His many trophies are a testament to his many bowling achievements. He was proud of his highest score of 287. He bowled his last game with his Beaufort family on November 21, 2020, the day after his 94th birthday. Artie will be remembered by many as a man of honor and commitment to his family, his country and his community. As his daughters will tell you, while he was a caring and loving father, grandfather, great grandfather and great-great grandfather, he could also be a stubborn, strong-willed man. His favorite saying was "My mind is made up, don't confuse me with the facts." The family asks that in lieu of flowers memorials be made in Artie's name to The Lion's Club Leader Dog Program or a charity of your choice. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 from 5-7 pm at Anderson Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 12:30 pm in Carl Anderson Memorial Chapel with burial in Beaufort National Cemetery with full military honors.