James Virgil "Jim" Heit
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 4D - November 15, 2020
James Virgil Heit
March 2, 1933 - November 5, 2020
Jim Heit, age 87, passed away
on November 5, 2020, at the
HopeWest care center with his
daughter, Chris Pennal, by his
side.
He was born in Bedford, PA,
to William Heit and Vivien
(Stemple) Heit. His parents
would divorce and remarry
others resulting in seven siblings,
Fred (Kathy) Bowermaster,
Bill John (Jan) Bowermaster,
Carole Sue Coupland, Bob
Bowermaster, Kathy (Bob)
Galinak, Tom (Shirley) Heit, and
Melinda (Dave) Howsare.
Jim grew-up in Bruceton
Mills, WV, graduating from
Bruceton High School in 1951.
The local paper back then stated
that Jim was “one of the most
outstanding athletes to attend
Bruceton HS”.
Jim began his military service
with the Navy in 1951. During 1952-1955 he participated in
Operation Ivy, Operation Castle, and Operation Wigwam atomic
tests at Eniwetok Proving Ground, Marshall Islands. Jim entered
into the Air Force in 1955, and was stationed at various Air Force
Base locations in Virginia, New Jersey, Mississippi, North Carolina,
and Maryland. He was also stationed for a few years in England and
in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He retired as a MSgt
from the Air Force in 1971.
Jim entered civil service with the Department of Army at Ft.
Belvoir, VA, as an engineering technician. He would retire in April
1993, resulting in a total of 42 years of military and civil service
combined.
In 1957, Jim married Trancy White and they had one child,
Christina, in 1958. Jim and Trancy moved to Grand Junction, CO,
in 1996 to be near Chris, husband Eric, and their two children, Ryan
Carroll and Cierra Pennal. Jim loved attending and supporting
his grandchildren’s sporting endeavors. While retired in Grand
Junction, Jim worked a little at Tiara Rado golf course and golfed
a lot (his life-long passion). He also volunteered at the local VA
Hospital and for food distribution programs for more than 13 years.
Jim and Trancy traveled yearly across the U.S. to visit family and
friends. They enjoyed sight-seeing road-trips, the occasional cruise
to Mexico and Alaska, and a visit to Hawaii.
Jim was a man of service to country and family. He was not one
to ask or want help for himself, but always helping others. He loved
his family immensely.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, and his loving wife,
Trancy Heit. He is survived by daughter, Chris (Eric) Pennal;
grandchildren, Ryan (Mandy) Carroll and Cierra Pennal, and greatgrandchildren, Jaxson, Charlotte, and Trace Carroll. He is also
survived by his seven siblings and their families; numerous nieces,
nephews, cousins and great friends across the country.
Cremation and private interment at the VA Cemetery will take
place this month. A celebration of life to honor Jim is planned for
Spring 2021.
In Jim’s exact words, “try not to be sorrowful...I have had a
