Rev. Paul Heil

Rev. David Paul Heil, 93, of the Mennonite Home, 1520 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, formerly of Heritage Avenue, died Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at The Mennonite Home where he has resided since 2008. Born in Philadelphia, PA, he was the son of the late Harvey and Sallie Schoenley Heil. He was the husband of Virginia May Gaul Heil of Lancaster with whom he celebrated 67 years of marriage. Pastor Heil was a graduate of Northeast High School, Philadelphia. Following graduation, he attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania for one year. He then attended Temple University, graduating in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree; in 1945 with a Master of Divinity degree; and in 1948 with a Master of Sacred Theology degree. He was licensed to preach in 1939 at the Annual Conference of the East Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Congregational Church. Subsequently, he served the following E.C. Congregations: Emmanuel E. C. Church, Trevorton, 1940-1944 (student Pastorate); Trinity E. C. Church, N. Reading 1944-1948; Boulevard E.C. Church, Allentown 1948-1951; St. Paul E.C.Church, York 1951-1961 (while here he also started the Weigelstown E.C. Church in 1959); Grace E.C. Church, Lancaster 1961-1975 ( while here he also started the Faith E.C. Church on Old Philadelphia Pike in 1968) and Grace E.C. Church, Schuylkill Haven 1983-1986. From 1975 – 1983, Pastor Heil served as District Superintendent of the Eastern District of the East Pennsylvania Conference of the E.C. Church. He retired from the active pastorate in 1986 however, in 1987, on moving back to Lancaster, he became Visitation Pastor on a part-time basis at the Grace E.C. Church in Lancaster and continued serving in this way until August 2002. Over the years Pastor Heil served in various capacities in the Evangelical Congregational Conference: song leader at the Herndon and Rosedale Camp Meetings; member and then chairman of the Hymnal Committee of the General Conference; member of the Christian Education Society Advisory Board; member of the Bible Conference Directors; Chairman of the Eastern District Survey Committee; member of the Committee on Amendments; the Administrative Council and later its Secretary; Chairman of the Waldheim Camp and Rosedale Camp Commissions; member and later Chairman of the Conference Relations Committee; the North East India Mission Board from 1975-1987; Delegate to the General Conference of the Denomination on a number of occasions; Trustee and Secretary of the Evangelical Congregational Retirement Village, Myerstown, PA from 1969-1990; member of the Supervisory Committee; and member and later President of the Board of Pensions from 1974-1986. In addition to his wife, Virginia May Heil, he is survived by two sons, Paul S., husband of Shelia Heil, of Lancaster; John T., husband of Susan Heil ,of Strasburg, PA; four grandchildren: Benjamin (Tiffany), Kathleen, Jason, and Andrew (Meredith) Heil; and two great-grandchildren: Zachary and Hailee Heil. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Pastor Heil’s Life Celebration Funeral Service at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at The Mennonite Home, 1520 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, with the Rev. H. Robert Samuels officiating. The family will receive friends in the chapel from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be in Conestoga Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Pastor Heil’s memory to Grace Evangelical Congregational Church, 415 S. Shippen Street, Lancaster, PA 17602.