Franklin Nelson Heck, 86, died Friday, May 9, 2008 at his home in Palmetto Creek, Elberta.
He was born Feb. 6, 1922 in Bartlesville, Okla., graduated from Barklesville High School in 1940 and attended the University of Kansas until the outbreak of World War II, when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.
He earned the rank of Captain and flew 68 missions over Europe in a B26 Martin Marauder Bomber, receiving many commendations.
After returning to civilian life, he enrolled at the University of Missouri and received a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in journalism. He also met and married Elizabeth “Betty” Jane McGuire and embarked on his career as a newspaper man.
He taught at Christian College in Columbia, Mo, worked at newspapers in Kansas and Nebraska, then at the Missouri Press Association as director of advertising.
Ten years later he joined the editorial staff of the Cincinatti Enquirer and from there, became director of public information at the University of Cincinnati where his wife was a faculty member. He purchaed the Fairfield Echo newspaper in 1973, which he published until his retirement several years later.
Politically conservative, he was a model of integrity and honesty with a belief in the goodness of man. His pursuit of perfection in all his endeavors was legendary to all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, William Heck and Oscar Heck; his parents, O.B. and Gladys Heck.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Heck; two daughters, Susan Chapman of Pensacola, Fla., and Marianna McKerall of Gulf Shores; son, Franklin Nelson Heck Jr. of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; sister, Martha Diebold of Foley; grandsons, Benjamin Scrivner of Pensacola, Fla., and Joseph McKerall of Gulf Shores; granddaughters, Sara Seuzeneau and Kristin Beck of Pensacola, Fla., Katherine McKerall of Gulf Shores and Molly McKerall of Hollywood, Calif.; step-grandsons, Julio and Victor Mariuitt of Pensacola, Fla.; and great-grandson, Hudson McGuire Beck of Pensacola, Fla.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Centennial Celebration of the School of Journalism, University of Missouri-Columbia, 401 Reynolds Alumni and Visitors Center, Columbia, MO 65211 or at https://donatetomu.missouri.edu.
Creamtion arrangements are by Pine Rest Funeral Home Inc., Foley.
