Eric Russell Heebner

Eric was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts to parents Russell and Roselyn Heebner, the youngest of five children. He grew up in Grand Prairie, Texas and was a 1981 graduate of South Grand Prairie High School, where he was a member of the Warriors football team and acapela choir.

Eric served his country in the United States Navy for 8 years and then retired from the United States Public Health Service as a U.S. Military Lt. Commander. After the service, he received a B.S. in Nursing from Baylor University. He completed his Masters of Science in Nursing from UT Health Science Center and was a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Eric was employed as a Nursing Professor at Lone Star College in Montgomery County and a Certified Wound Care Specialist. He also was a National Speaker for wound care.

He met his loving wife Sonia Fontabla and they were married in Grand Prairie in 1989. Eric was a proud father to Joshua and Danielle.

Eric had the opportunity to travel abroad as a youngster, living in Tehran, Iran when his father was employed by Bell Helicopter. He loved to travel and some of the places he lived and visited were Korea, Spain, Germany, Scotland, Ireland and England. It brought him much joy to share these experiences with his family. He also lived with his family in Harlingen and The Woodlands, Texas.

He will be fondly remembered by those closest to him for his love of laughter, sense of humor and dedication to family and friends. Eric was always one to reach out to others to bring comfort and was steadfast in his Christian faith; having received Christ as his personal savior as a young boy. He was constantly driven to increase his knowledge in a number of ways. He was extremely interested in and devoted much time to studying the history of the Schwenkfelder teachings and theory. In short, Eric was capable of deep thought yet had the ability to find humor in the most simple of things.

Eric was an accomplished writer (having authored several articles in well known publications) and poet. His other passions were cooking, traveling and researching family genealogy.

Eric was taken from this life much too soon and very suddenly as a result of an automobile accident. He was a devoted father, husband, brother and loyal friend who brought joy to those he knew. He will be missed by those he touched in so many ways throughout his very memorable life.

He is survived by his loving wife Sonia, children Joshua and Danielle and their beloved dog, Mamagirl, mother Roselyn, brothers and sisters, Joanne Fuentes, James Heebner and wife Phyllis, Laura Thomas and husband James, Kurt Heebner, mother and father in law Lolo and Lola and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his father Russell Heebner.

The family will receive friends on Monday, December 13, 2010 at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Pkwy., Arlington, Texas 76013 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services to celebrate Eric's life will be held on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. also at Wade Family Funeral Home. Following the services he will be laid to rest at DFW National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.

If desired, memorial contributions may be made in Eric's name to The Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, 105 Seminary St. Pennsburg, PA., 18073 or 215-679-3103 or info@schwenkfelder.com