Walter Heiss

Walter Roland Heiss, 92, of Fayetteville, PA and formerly of Big Canoe, GA, passed away on November 16, 2017. Born February 26, 1925 in Baltimore, MD, he was the son of the late John R. and Marian Schraml Heiss. His beloved wife of 70 years, Yolanda Stabe Heiss, preceded him in death on July 15, 2017.

Walter met Yolanda on February 15, 1943, when she came to work at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, where Walter was working as a mail clerk. For Walter, it was love at first sight, but Yolanda told him he was too young for her. However, by May 1, 1943, they were going steady. They were married on December 15, 1946, after Walter was discharged from the Marine Corps, where he served honorably in the South Pacific during World War II. Their son, John Stabe Heiss, was born October 29, 1949. John received his PhD in Arachnology from the University of Arkansas and married Dr. Nancy Heiss Jones of Gravette AR in 1983. He passed away in 1985 after a battle with cancer.

Yolanda and Walter lived most of their lives together in Big Canoe, GA, an 8,000 acre community in the North Georgia mountains. Walter worked for the US Forest Service, as director of the southeast district, from 1959 – 1982. In 1990, he and Yolanda moved to Frederick MD, where he served as a docent at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. It was there that he decided to write his book entitled “Veterinary Service During the American Civil War”.

Walter is survived by his sister, Hannah Freeburger, nieces and nephews, Tom Freeburger, Joanne Fortman, Michael Freeburger, Patricia Regan, and Nancy Giammatteo, and dear friend and caregiver, Patty John.

Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Chambersburg, PA. Interment will be at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.