Charles (Billy) William Heaps, Sr.

CHARLES WILLIAM “BILLY” HEAPS, age 79, of Bel Air, MD, died on November 24, 2007 at his home. Born in Pylesville, MD, he was the son of the late Thomas Augustus Heaps and the late Ruby Hill Lewis Graybeal.

A life long resident of Harford County, he was raised on Five Forks Farm, located at the site where five roads converge in Pylesville. His grandfather, the late Oscar Lewis, owned the adjoining farm. Mr. Heaps attended the Last Chance Elementary School, a one-room schoolhouse, near St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and Highland High School.

For many years he worked on and subsequently ran the family dairy farm until being drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After returning to civilian life, Mr. Heaps became an insurance appraiser and then a real estate broker. He co-owned Heaps and Vaught Realty in Bel Air and was a life long member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pylesville.

Mr. Heaps is survived by his wife, Ruth Radogna Heaps, of Bel Air, MD; one son, Charles “Chip” William Heaps Jr. and his wife, Patricia, of Churchville, MD; one brother, Frank Salmons of Bel Air, MD; four sisters, Mary Wilson of Wilmington, DE, Anne Poole of Pylesville, MD, Betty Shaffer of Bel Air, MD, and Eleanor Ryan of Wilmington, DE; and two grandchildren, Lindsay Toy Heaps and Charles “Chad” William Heaps III, both of Churchville, MD.

Contributions may be sent to Harford Hospice, 8003 Corporate Drive, Suite G, Baltimore, MD 21236 or to the Chesapeake Cancer Alliance, P.O. Box 897, Bel Air, MD 21014.