Colonel Edwin Dale Heath Jr.'s Obituary
Heath, Colonel Edwin D. Jr. (USAR) (Ret.) Edwin D. Heath, Jr., was born December 17, 1928, in Dallas, Texas to Edwin D. Heath, Sr. and Iva Mae Stallcup Heath. The Heath and Stallcup families were among the early settlers of Rockwall and Collin Counties, respectively. Ed passed away on April 14, 2010. Ed was predeceased by his parents, sister Ann Marlatt, daughter Barbara Ann and stepdaughter Kathleen O’Quinn Cherico. Ed is survived by his wife of 26 years, Gratia O’Quinn Heath. He is also survived by his daughter Rachel Heath Baker, sons David, Stephen and his wife Doreen, Paul and his wife Jennifer, Matthew and his wife Gail, and stepson Michael O’Quinn and his wife Gail, as well as many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. On September 19, 1955, Ed became a sworn member of the Dallas Police Department. He proudly served in numerous roles, including Patrolman, Detective and Lieutenant in the Training Division. Ultimately, Ed served as the Department’s first Director of the Legal Liaison Division. In 1975, the Legal Liaison Division was designated as a National Exemplary Project by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, U.S. Department of Justice. Prior to joining the Dallas Police Department, he served with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department as both a reserve and full-time Deputy from 1951 to 1953. Ed retired from the DPD in 1978. At that time, he became a Senior Assistant City Attorney to the City of Richardson, assigned to the Police Department as their Legal Advisor, a position that he held until his retirement in 1996. Ed graduated from Highland Park High School in 1946. He received a B.B.A. from Southern Methodist University, a Master of Arts in Police Administration from Sam Houston State University, and a Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law. He was a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas Bar Association and the American Bar Association and was authorized to practice in many Federal Courts as well as the United States Supreme Court. He was a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy and the Southwestern Police Academy and taught in the Criminal Justice program of Sam Houston State University from 1970 through 1977. He was also a guest lecturer at The University of Texas School of Law, the Southwestern Law Enforcement Institute of the Southwestern Legal Foundation, the National College of District Attorneys, the F.B.I. National Academy, and programs of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Bar activities include service on the Advisory Committee on Law Enforcement of the State Bar Penal Code Revision Committee (1970), General Chairman of the Legal Officers Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (1973-1974), Vice-Chairman of the International Law Committee of the Dallas Bar Association (1977) and Vice-Chairman of the Police Function Committee, Criminal Justice Section, of the American Bar Association (1977- 1978). Heath’s military service began in June of 1948, when he enlisted in the Texas National Guard. After receiving a direct commission in the United States Army Reserve in 1951, he attended the three-month Basic and Advanced Officer Courses at the Army Military Police School and later graduated from both the Army Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He attained the rank of Colonel in the Military Police Corps, United States Army Reserve. He completed a six-year mobilization assignment to the Pentagon as Chief Legal Counsel, Law Enforcement Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Personnel, Headquarters, Department of the Army. Following his retirement from the Army Reserve, Ed was active in and a Life Member of the Reserve Officers Association, serving in numerous leadership capacities, including serving as President for the Department of Texas (1992). Ed and Gratia are members of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church. Ed was also a member of Dallas Scottish Rite and York Rite Bodies, Hella Shrine Temple. Ed’s family expresses their gratitude to long-time family friend Cindy Walker-Jones and the staff of Walnut Place, Presbyterian Hospital and Faith Presbyterian Hospice for their loving care. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 19, 2010 at Restland Cemetery, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas Texas, with Rev. Walt Lunde officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Twelfth Step Ministry Inc. in care of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road, Dallas, Texas 75220-3901.
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