R. Joel Heath, 59, of Chester Hill died Thursday, July 7, 2016, at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey.
Born Dec. 7, 1956 in Philipsburg, he was a son of the late Robert R. and Sarah L. (Huston) Heath.
He was a member of the St. Laurence Episcopal Church, Osceola Mills.
Mr. Heath was a member of the Osceola Mills Lodge No. 515, F&AM, having served as Worshipful Master in 1983, and the Altoona Scottish Rite and Jaffa Temple, Altoona.
He was a founding member of the former Chester Hill Lion’s Club. He was a life member of the B.P.O. Elks No. 1173, Philipsburg; Osceola Mills Community Historical Foundation; the Keystone Funeral Directors Association, the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association; and the National Funeral Directors Association. He was a past member of the Pennsylvania Coroner’s Association
He was a 1974 graduate of the Philipsburg-Osceola Mills Area High School. He was also a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and the St. Francis University with a teaching certification.
Mr. Heath earned his Master’s degree, with high honors, in education from Mississippi State University, and he was an honors graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.
He was a third-generation funeral director, having been licensed for 35 years. He was also an educator.
He formerly taught as a substitute in a number of the local area high schools, and he was formerly a member of the faculty and a department co-chairman at Mississippi State and an instructor at Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.
Mr. Heath was also involved in local county government, having served as the Clearfield County Coroner for six terms from 1987 to 2011.
He received a number of accreditations and certifications in his capacity as coroner, which included: Eye Enucleation Certification from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine; Eye Enucleation Technician from the Center for Organ Recovery; and Forensic Death Investigation from Penn State University, Edinboro University, Mercyhurst Archeological Institute, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Erie County Coroner’s Office and the Pennsylvania Dental Association Forensic Odontology Committee.
Most recently, he was a funeral director and business partner of the Heath Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Osceola Mills, and the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, Philipsburg.
Mr. Heath was the supervisor of the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, a position he has held since 1993.
He is survived by his wife, the former Sheila K. Folmar, to whom he was married on Dec. 17, 2004, in Winchester, Va.; one sister, Virginia R. “Gina” Walls of Osceola Mills; one brother, Dr. John Scott Heath and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Heath of Michigan; a nephew, Matthew R. Walls and his fiancée, Brianna Reynolds of West Decatur; two nieces, Allison Sarah and Katherine Elizabeth Heath, both of Michigan; a great-niece, Adelynn Jade Walls and a great-nephew, Nolan Matthew Walls, both of West Decatur; three step-sons, Jason L. McCliment and his wife, Jaimie of Seven Valleys, Pa, Todd A. McCliment and his wife, Ildiko, of Fayetteville, NC and Brandon J. McCliment and his wife, Shawna, of RD Osceola Mills; and five step-grandchildren, Shannon Josephine, Brooklyn Marie, Madison Harper, Oliver Lloyd and Landon Joel McCliment.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, the former Bettyann Benjamin, who died on Nov. 16, 2001, and one step-grandson, Lincoln Blaise McCliment.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 E. Spruce St., Philipsburg, with the Rev. Fr. William R. Walker, officiating.
Friends will be received from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Monday and from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Umbria Cemetery, Osceola Mills.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Laurence Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 128, Osceola Mills, PA 16666.
Online condolences may be submitted at www.beezerheathfh.com.