Ray Allan Heiman passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Rio Verde, Ariz., after 88 well-lived years.
Ray was born in December 1935 in Warsaw, the eighth of nine children born to Tony and Sophie Heiman.
Over the years, Ray told tales of growing up in a large Warsaw farming family. A favorite story was that at the age of 6, he proudly announced he had harrowed a furrow in the field after seeing the horse hitched to the harrow. His Dad said, “Good, you can harrow again all day tomorrow.” Ray repeatedly said that farming was hard work. He spoke of listening to radio programs while milking cows before school. “Good morning breakfast clubbers, good morning to you,” he would regale the family with the melody of the jingle. At age 10, Ray rode a pony through the snow to alert the fire department that their house was on fire. His actions saved the family home.
In high school, Ray was president of his senior class, starred in the play “Life with Father” and was prom king. He lettered in football and track and said he could have lettered in basketball, too, but his father pulled him out because there were “chores to be done.” Ray was given a football award by Olympic star, Jesse Owens. He excelled on the debate team and placed first in the nation for extemporaneous speech.
Ray earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University in Bloomington. He was the first in his family to attend college and to earn a degree which was made possible by being awarded a full-tuition scholarship. While in college, Ray worked at Sigma Pi fraternity to pay room and board. He was a member of the fraternity’s team for the Little 500 bicycle race.
It was at Indiana University that Ray met the love of his life, Jacqueline, and they were married during college. Ray was in ROTC and after graduation they were stationed in Germany. While there, Ray and Jacki explored Europe as much as time allowed and in the company of two babies and a tent. They even attended the Rome Olympics in 1960 to see Ray’s friend Max race. They spoke of visiting the Athletes Village at the Olympics with Max.
After his tour of duty, Ray began a long and steady career with Burroughs Corporation, transferring and moving the family between multiple cities in Indiana and Tennessee. Those decades saw the growth and evolution of the computer industry through which Ray continued to embrace new challenges and new information.
His time at Indiana University made Ray a lifelong Hoosier fan and he attended basketball and football games well into his eighties. Ray always relished travel and family time. Vacations to historic locations and National Parks were an annual adventure, often remembered as much for tales of epic car and RV repairs as for the selected destinations. After retirement, Ray and Jacki continued to travel extensively both in the U.S. and abroad. At the time of his passing, Ray was still planning trips with family and friends.
Ray is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jacqueline, and their children, Greg, Mark (Lisa), Kim (Philip); and grandchildren: Adrianna, Christopher (Carolyn), Kathryn (Blake), Nicholas and Wyatt; one great-grandchild, Brooklyn, and another whose upcoming birth Ray was eagerly anticipating.
Ray’s zest for life and sense of humor were consistent through his nearly nine decades of life. His story-telling captivated friends and family alike. Ray volunteered at many of his grandchildren’s activities and is remembered for his infectious laughter and engaging style. They have been known as Nana and Granddaddy to their grandchildren and to all the grandchildren’s friends. He was completely involved in every aspect of life.
Ray’s world evolved from rural beginnings with horse-drawn plows to witnessing a man landing on the moon; from party-line rotary phones to hand-held cell phones. Ray continued to be engaged in learning about the world throughout his life. He and Jacki had many lifelong friends; they even celebrated the millennium with friends they met forty years prior. Ray loved spending time with his large family in Warsaw and continued to correspond with friends from high school, college, the Army, Burroughs Corporation and Indianapolis until his passing.
To honor Ray’s life, please consider planting a tree because Ray loved trees. The family requests time to grieve while a Celebration of Life is being planned.