Marvin Heilman

Weslaco - Marvin Dwayn Heilman, 81, entered his heavenly home on February 16, 2016. Marvin was born in Rush Springs, Oklahoma on August 6, 1934 to William (Bill) and Vera Heilman.

During his elementary school years, Marvin rode his horse, Tony, to the one-room school he attended in the community of Sperling, Oklahoma. When he entered high school, the family moved from their farm into Rush Springs. He graduated from Rush Springs High School in 1952 where he was the star half-back on the Rush Springs Melonheavers football team. He played and watched the first football game at Rush Springs High School. Rush Springs claims the title of “Watermelon Capital of the World”, therefore, his summer job during high school was working in the watermelon patch, loading melons to be shipped around the nation. Marvin then enrolled at Oklahoma A&M University and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Agronomy in 1956. That year Oklahoma A&M became Oklahoma State University from which Marvin earned a Master’s of Science degree in 1958.

On February 2, 1958 Marvin married Karen Goetzinger. The newlyweds moved to Weslaco in March, 1958 where Marvin was employed at the US Department of Agriculture Research Station. Marvin and Karen had three sons, Brent, Derrick and Reid. Marvin was highly-respected in cotton research. His greatest pleasure was working with local farmers to apply his research projects. Marvin spent short periods of time working in India, Brazil, Bolivia, Honduras, and Nicaragua as a consultant. In 1988, he retired and then worked 10 years for Mid Valley Chemical Company, an affiliate of Conagra. After retiring from Mid Valley, he did private consulting with several local farmers.

In 1967 Marvin and his family made a temporary move to College Station where Marvin earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Soils Chemistry from Texas A&M University.

Marvin was very active in the Bridge Avenue Church of Christ where he had served as a deacon and elder for many years. He was instrumental in the move from the Kansas Avenue church to its present location.

Marvin was truly a family man. His wife, sons, and grandchildren were the pride and joy of his life.

Marvin loved gardening, even though it was done on a very small scale. He was proud of his Gerber daisies and bluebonnets, particularly his rare pink bluebonnet. He kept the family supplied with lots of fried okra and squash and was looking forward to a bumper crop of avocados next season.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, Bill & Vera; infant brother, Scotty; sister, Mary; brother, Carroll; and son, Derrick. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Karen; two sons, Brent (Leticia) of Encino and Reid (Shelly) of Corpus Christi; brother, Perry of Phoenix, AZ ; sister, Doris Smith of Tempelton, CA; eleven grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Friday, February 19, from 4:00-8:00 p.m at McCaleb Funeral Home in Weslaco. A funeral service will be held at Bridge Avenue Church of Christ Saturday, February 20, at 10:00 a.m.

Serving as pallbearers will be Travis Heilman, B. J. Heilman, Tyler Heilman, Trey Heilman, Austin Heilman, Todd Heilman, Erik Heilman and Tim Thompson. Honorary pallbearers will be Jesse Russell, Richard Myers, Jim Becton, Gus Villarreal, Rob Harris Delbert Langford, Allen Heggen, and Cal Baetz.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bridge Avenue Church of Christ or the Aurora House.