Obituary of Arthur Heilman , 100

Arthur W. Heilman, aged 100, passed away peacefully on Tuesday September 23 at his State College home with his family and cat ‘Snowball’ by his side. Born in St. Louis Missouri, the son of William E. Heilman and Margaret Goettelman Heilman, Arthur was preceded in death by his brother John Heilman and sisters Eugenia Sieve, and Ruth Kolsbun.

Arthur grew up in Murphysboro Illinois and graduated from Murphysboro Township High School in 1932. He worked odd jobs as a traveling shoe salesman and in restaurants before graduating from Carthage College with a BA in English and History in 1942.

It was at Carthage College where Arthur met the love of his life Dorothy Edna Thomas of Baraboo Wisconsin. They were married in March 1943 at St. Louis Missouri and stayed together until Dorothy’s death on January 13, 2008. Arthur and Dorothy have three surviving children: Thomas Heilman of Philadelphia PA, Rosemary Heilman of State College PA, and Bruce Heilman of State College and Dar es Salaam Tanzania. He also has three surviving grandchildren: Kevin S. Heilman, a US Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton; Arthur M. Heilman a middle school student, and Dorothy K. Heilman who is in elementary school. John Kolsbun, son of Arthur’s sister Ruth Kolsbun lives in Oregon and Shirley Anderson the daughter of Ruth Kolsbun lives in Washington.

During World War II Arthur served in the Army Air Force. After the war, he earned his Masters (1948, Psychology) and PhD (1950, Educational Psychology) from the University of Iowa. From 1948 to 1951 he was the Director of the Michigan State University’s Reading Laboratory, later moving to a similar position at the University of Oklahoma (1952-1962). Arthur took up the position of Director of the Pennsylvania State University Reading Center in 1962, which he held until his retirement in 1979. He published widely on reading in academic journals and authored five textbooks including Principles and Practices of Teaching Reading (first edition 1961, seventh edition 1990) and Phonics in Proper Perspective (first edition 1964, 10th edition 2006).

He played football at Carthage College and for Murphysboro High School and closely followed the football team at Penn State. He was an avid bowler in the Penn State Retirees’ Bowling League. He loved the outdoors, hiking and traveling with his beloved wife Dorothy to Maine and Sanibel Island Florida. Although not a regular at church during his later years, Christianity was an important part of his life with Arthur being active in the Lutheran church as a youth and attending St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in State College while working at Penn State. Arthur relished being with family and friends, especially the time he shared at the end of his life with Rose Knott and Victoria Marwa Heilman. The kind care of the Home Nursing Hospice staff helped to ease the difficulties of his final days.

Services and burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the direction of Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc. in Bellefonte. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.wetzlerfuneralhome.com.