Chaplain Floyd L. Heckard

Colonel Floyd Lee Heckard, Chaplain, United States Army, Ret., died Sunday, June 28, 2009 at Hospice Savannah.
Born in Gastonia, NC, 24 January 1923, he was graduated from Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC, with a BA degree in 1947 and from Candler School of Theology, Emory University with a MD degree in 1949. He was ordained as a United Methodist clergyman in 1949 and became a member of the Western North Carolina Conference in 1950.
His education for the Christian ministry was interrupted when he entered the US Army in 1943. He served for 39 months with the Infantry. During W.W. II he served as an infantry platoon leader in Germany where he received the Combat Infantry Badge and the Purple Heart. Upon the termination of hostilities in Europe he was assigned to the Philippine Islands as an infantry company commander. Upon his separation from military service he resumed his studies for the ministry at Wofford College and Emory University. He reentered the military service in 1952 to serve as a Chaplain in assignments in Korea, Europe, and Vietnam as well as the United States. At various times in his career he had 3 assignments to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he was in charge of Religious Activities and Pastoral Care. He retired from the US Army in 1978 with the rank of Colonel. Among the medals he received was the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal 4th award, and Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters. After his retirement he served for several years as Chaplain for the US Soldier's and Airmen's Home in Washington, DC.
He was married in 1945 to Pearl Rebecca Beamer, of Mt. Airy , NC, who accompanied him on all his Stateside assignments and on three European tours of duty. After retiring from the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church they moved to Savannah, GA, in 1989, where they became active in the Wesley Monumental Untied Methodist Church and several civic organizations.
He is survived by his wife, Rebecca, of Savannah; Ida Moyer, a niece of Asheboro, NC, and is wife's niece, Kathy McGinn, of Mill Valley, CA.
Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.
Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.
Burial will be in the National Cemetery in Beaufort, SC with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers it is requested that donations be made to the Wesley Gardens or the Music Fund at Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, 429 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA, 31401.

Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel