Orpha Ruth Heitz

Orpha Ruth Heitz, 59, died Monday, Dec. 15, 2003, at her home following a short illness. She was born June 22, 1944, in Nevada, Mo., to Dee Vern Goodpaster and Sylvina Parker Goodpaster. She married Lester T. Heitz on July 19, 1965, in Nevada, Mo., and he survives of the home.

Ruth grew up in the Harwood/Walker area. She was baptized into the Methodist Church at Camp Galilee, El Dorado Springs, Mo., in 1960. She was a graduate of Walker High School in 1962. She attended Bolivar Bible College. Mrs. Heitz and her husband have lived in the Branson area the past 20 years. For the past six years, she has worked for Surrey Vacation Resort as head trainer of marketing.

Survivors in addition to her husband include two sons, Lester D. Heitz and Bobby Edward Heitz, both of Forssyth, Mo.; one sister, Evelyn Austin, Nevada, Mo.; two nephews, one uncle, and one cousin.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 19, at Ferry Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Satterlee officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Walker, Mo. Friends may call now and until the hour of service and the family receives friends from 1 to 2 p.m., Friday at the funeral home.