Edward Heiberger

Edward Melvin Heiberger, 68, died Sept. 15, 2003, after a lengthy illness.

He was born Nov. 23, 1934, in Azusa, Calif., to Clarence Edward James Heiberger and Hazel Agatha Runnels. He graduated from Franklin High School in Stockton, Calif., in 1952. He married Louise Ellen Shriver in 1957.

He worked for Pacific Telephone Co. for 25 years before going into business for himself. A true baseball fan, he played semi-pro ball for the Waterloo Athletic Club in the late 1950s and was scouted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1970 the family moved to Sonora, Calif., a place he always considered home.

He was a member of the Sonora Moose Lodge, E. Clampus Vitus and Sonora Elks Lodge. He brought his love of baseball to the numerous teams that he helped to coach. In 1993 he moved to Whidbey Island to be near his daughters and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Sharon Gardner.

He is survived by two daughters, Deborah Holbert and her husband, Douglas, of Langley and Sandra Davis and her husband, Robert, of Castle Rock; a sister, Sandra Dillon and her husband, Donald, of Langley; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren Brandi Waldrop, Robert Davis, Will Holbert and Hannah and Mariah Waldrop.

His greatest joys were his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and he loved watching them play the sport he dearly loved.

A memorial service is planned in October in Sonora, Calif., with the date and place to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in his name to any Little League organization.

The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff of the University of Washington Medical Center for the wonderful care they gave.