Bruce E. Heal, Lewes plumber

Bruce E. Heal, 64, of Lewes, passed away suddenly Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013, at Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was born Sept. 29, 1948, in Lewes, son of late Harry Francis Heal Jr. and Eleanor Helen (Hocker) Joseph.

Mr. Heal was a Lewes native, born and raised on Lewes Beach. He was a 1967 graduate of Lewes High School and went on to become a master plumber/pipe fitter. He worked several years for The Pipefitters and Plumbers Local 782 in Delaware City before going on to open and operate his own business called B & M Partnership, and more recently, Bruce Heal Plumbing for many years. Mr. Heal was a member of the Jefferson Masonic Lodge No. 15 and the NRA.

He was one of the original founders of Pumpkin Chunkin and helped build numerous champion machines. In his free time, Mr. Heal enjoyed everything from NASCAR, sailing, boating, fishing, to working in his hobby shop building many cars, planes and ships and collecting trains.  He also enjoyed spending his winters in Grassy Key, Fla., MM59. Most of all, Mr. Heal enjoyed the love and memories shared with his family and friends. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and dear friend who will be missed by all who knew him.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Heal was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Karen Lee Heal.   He is survived by his loving wife of 18-and-a-half years, Patricia A. Heal; his son, William Wiedmann of Milton; his three daughters, Kim Smith and her husband Will of Arlington, Va., Kate Trench and her husband Jeff of Milton, and Stephanie Wiedmann of Milton; two sisters, Bundy Simms and her husband Roland of Georgetown and Gretchen Heal and her husband Dale Link of Suffolk, Va.; four grandchildren, Matthew, Morgan, Mason, and Coral; and three cats, Bailey, Baboo, and Stash.

A public viewing will be held Thursday, Sept. 26, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes, where Masonic Services will be conducted at 6 p.m.  Interment will be private.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the first responders, paramedics, nurses, and doctors that cared for Mr. Heal.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mr. Heal’s name may be made to Milton Fire Department, 116 Front St., Milton, DE 19968.