sGeorge Heaton Obituary George Leonard Heaton, Jr. September 30, 1950 － April 20, 2023 Courtland, VA － George Leonard Heaton, Jr. passed away in Raleigh, NC on Thursday, April 20th, 2023, at the age of 72 after a well-fought battle with cancer. George is survived by his sister, Joy (Dr. Francis) Taylor, his niece, Ginny (Paul) Mott, and nephew, Thomas Taylor; his sister-in-law Betty Heaton, his nephew Daniel (Kimberly) Heaton, their daughter Clara; his nephew Mattox (Megan) Heaton, and their children Riley and Ruth. He is predeceased by his brother Larry A. Heaton and parents George Sr. and Ruth Heaton. Born in Brownsville, Texas, George attended Ferrum College in Virginia before beginning his life-long travels across the U.S. as a jack of all trades, spending time in sales, construction, and motor coach delivery. Over George‚Äôs many decades of travel, he traveled to every state in the US, except for Alaska. When pressed why he never completed the full 50, in true George fashion, he would reply "it‚Äôs too damn cold!". Everyone lucky enough to count him as a friend can recall his passion for living life to the fullest. Whether he was cliff diving in Playa del Carmen, traveling with his brother to Monaco to watch a Formula 1 race, attending numerous Final Fours, Kentucky Derbies, or making trips to Tuscaloosa to cheer on the Tide, George was determined to find the excitement in all life had to offer. His independent streak was tied to a generous spirit. He enjoyed sharing the perks of his million-mile flight status by traveling with his family. Whether flying his nephew to New Orleans so they could watch Virginia Tech play in a bowl game together or meeting his niece in Las Vegas to celebrate her 21st birthday, George‚Äôs family meant the world to him. His family and friends knew, no matter where they traveled, George would have advice and lots of great stories from his experiences over the years. In his travels, George made connections across the country. Right up until the end, George remained in contact with past coworkers and friends. In a superficial world, George was the genuine article, anyone who talked Alabama football with him knew he was the Crimson Tide‚Äôs biggest fan. He would celebrate the Tide‚Äôs many victories, but he‚Äôd be the first to call out their weaknesses. This unbridled honesty is why so many grew to love George. George loved his family and friends, Alabama football, and Formula 1 racing, and hated the spotlight. Instead of a service, family will honor his legacy and travel to some of his favorite destinations to celebrate a life well lived. Friends are encouraged to share any memories of George with his family. George and his family appreciate the caring and support from the staff at Medi Hospice of Raleigh and the other medical professionals involved in his care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project and St. Jude Children‚Äôs Research Hospital. www.wrightfuneralhome.org George Heaton Obituary (1950 － 2023) － Courtland, VA － Martinsville Bulletin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See also: 1) https://www.wrightfuneralhome.org/obituary/George-Heaton-Jr 2) https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/martinsvillebulletin/name/george-heaton-obituary?id=51730504 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Narrative Summary of the Obituary: George Leonard Heaton Jr., a passionate traveler and Alabama football fan, passed away on 20 April 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina at age 72 after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his sister, niece, nephew, and other family members. ### Narrative Summary of Funeral Services: No funeral service was held. Instead, George's family honored his legacy by traveling to some of his favorite destinations to celebrate his life. ## The Edited Obituary George Leonard Heaton, Jr. 30 September 1950 - 20 April 2023 Courtland, VA - George Leonard Heaton, Jr. passed away in Raleigh, NC on Thursday, 20 April 2023, at the age of 72 after a well-fought battle with cancer. George is survived by his sister, Joy (Dr. Francis) Taylor, his niece, Ginny (Paul) Mott, and nephew, Thomas Taylor; his sister-in-law Betty Heaton, his nephew Daniel (Kimberly) Heaton, their daughter Clara; his nephew Mattox (Megan) Heaton, and their children Riley and Ruth. He is predeceased by his brother Larry A. Heaton and parents George Sr. and Ruth Heaton. Born in Brownsville, Texas, George attended Ferrum College in Virginia before beginning his life-long travels across the U.S. as a jack of all trades, spending time in sales, construction, and motor coach delivery. Over George's many decades of travel, he traveled to every state in the U.S., except for Alaska. When pressed why he never completed the full 50, in true George fashion, he would reply "it's too damn cold!" Everyone lucky enough to count him as a friend can recall his passion for living life to the fullest. Whether he was cliff diving in Playa del Carmen, traveling with his brother to Monaco to watch a Formula 1 race, attending numerous Final Fours, Kentucky Derbies, or making trips to Tuscaloosa to cheer on the Tide, George was determined to find the excitement in all life had to offer. His independent streak was tied to a generous spirit. He enjoyed sharing the perks of his million-mile flight status by traveling with his family. Whether flying his nephew to New Orleans so they could watch Virginia Tech play in a bowl game together or meeting his niece in Las Vegas to celebrate her 21st birthday, George's family meant the world to him. His family and friends knew, no matter where they traveled, George would have advice and lots of great stories from his experiences over the years. In his travels, George made connections across the country. Right up until the end, George remained in contact with past coworkers and friends. In a superficial world, George was the genuine article, anyone who talked Alabama football with him knew he was the Crimson Tide's biggest fan. He would celebrate the Tide's many victories, but he'd be the first to call out their weaknesses. This unbridled honesty is why so many grew to love George. George loved his family and friends, Alabama football, and Formula 1 racing, and hated the spotlight. Instead of a service, family will honor his legacy and travel to some of his favorite destinations to celebrate a life well lived. Friends are encouraged to share any memories of George with his family. George and his family appreciate the caring and support from the staff at Medi Hospice of Raleigh and the other medical professionals involved in his care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. www.wrightfuneralhome.org George Heaton Obituary (1950 - 2023) Courtland, VA - Martinsville Bulletin ### Vital Statistics Summary | Name | George Leonard Heaton, Jr. | |---------|---------------------------------------| | Age | 72 | | Birth | 30 September 1950; Brownsville, Texas | | Death | 20 April 2023; Raleigh, NC | ### Table of Relationships | Name | Relationship | Residence. | |----------------------------|---------------------|--------------------------------| | George Leonard Heaton, Jr. | Decedent | Courtland, VA | | Joy (Dr. Francis) Taylor | Sister | Unknown | | Ginny (Paul) Mott | Niece | Unknown | | Thomas Taylor | Nephew | Unknown | | Betty Heaton | Sister-in-law | Unknown | | Daniel (Kimberly) Heaton | Nephew | Unknown | | Clara Heaton | Great-Niece | Unknown | | Mattox (Megan) Heaton | Nephew | Unknown | | Riley Heaton | Great-Nephew | Unknown | | Ruth Heaton | Great-Niece | Unknown | | Larry A. Heaton | Predeceased Brother | --- | | George Heaton Sr. | Predeceased Parent | --- | | Ruth Heaton | Predeceased Parent | --- | ### Other Relevant Information 1. George attended Ferrum College in Virginia. 2. He worked in sales, construction, and motor coach delivery. 3. He traveled to every state in the U.S., except for Alaska. 4. He was a passionate traveler and enjoyed sharing his experiences with his family. 5. He was a fan of Alabama football and Formula 1 racing. 6. He had a million-mile flight status. 7. He was known for his honesty and generosity.