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Columbus, NC-­‐Myrtle Thelma Heitman née Swanson, 92 years old, of 619 Laurel Lake Drive, Columbus, NC, died on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, of natural causes.

Myrtle was born in Chicago, IL, to the late Harry Leonard Swanson and Emma Swanson, née West. She was the loving and beloved wife of the late Donald Stemler Heitman.

Myrtle was raised and educated on the South Side of Chicago. She raised her own family in Hometown,

IL, and retired to a family-­‐built house in Sunnyview, NC. After her children were raised, Myrtle worked in the Human Resource department at Sweetheart Cup Company in Chicago before moving to Sunnyview.

Myrtle was a faithful Christian who rarely missed a day of church, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years, and loved gathering with the women in her adult Sunday School class. Her

volunteer spirit and love of young children was expressed in her yearly sign-­‐up as the “Room Mom” for her children’s school rooms and a chaperone on nearly every elementary field trip. She volunteered at Christ Community Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL, at Sunnyview Elementary School in Mill Spring, NC, and at Steps of Hope in Columbus, NC. She was a member of Coopers Gap Baptist Church, Mill Spring, NC.

Myrtle is survived by her sister Helen Norton of Chicago Ridge, IL; her two sons Richard Donald Heitman of Phippsburg, ME, (wife, Heidi Hollmann), and Daniel Steven Heitman of Hilo, HI; her two daughters, Judith Helen Heitman Miller (widow of Robert Miller) of Elburn, IL, and Donna Ruth Heitman Seidel (husband, Eric Seidel) of New Boston, NH; and her four grandchildren Bradley Miller (wife, Jennifer Rosenbaum), Rebecca Miller, Ellen Seidel, and Henry Seidel; and her great-­‐grandson, Felix Rosenbaum.

She was predeceased by her brother, Leonard Swanson.

She will be remembered for her dedication and passion for her family, and her quite but abiding faith. A

good friend of many.

A small private family memorial service will be held.

McFarland Funeral Chapel and Crematory

Tryon, North Carolina