Ray Dean Heaton, DO, 83, died on Sept. 4, 2012, in Arlington, Va.

Born in Parkersburg, W.Va. on Sept. 5, 1929, he grew up in Clifton, W.Va. and was a graduate of Wahama High School in 1947. He graduated from West Virginia University in 1951 with a BS in chemistry, and enrolled in USAF ROTC in Morgantown and served with the USAF as a Second Lieutenant in the capacity of Hospital Administration at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC. He was a graduate of the Air Force School of Aviation Medicine.

He met and married his wife of 35 years Patricia June Heap in 1954.

He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kansas City School of Osteopathic Medicine in 1958.

He was in private practice of osteopathic medicine in Pomeroy, Ohio from 1959 through 1970 then worked for Veterans Administration hospitals in Chillicothe, Ohio and Perry Point, Md. He reentered private practice in general/family osteopathic medicine in Arlington, Va, 1973-1994.

He was a member of the Masonic Temple and Kena Shrine with recognition for 50 years in each organization, and a member emeritus of Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association.

He was predeceased by his wife Patricia June (Heap) Heaton. He is survived by partner Joan V. Malcolm, his brother Kenneth Bass, step-daughter Susan (Eames) Nutt, daughter Patricia (Heaton) Holmgren, sons Dr. Roy E Heaton, Dr. K. Joseph Heaton, and nine grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Donations in his memory may be made to Shriner’s Hospitals.

Memorial services will be held at Annandale United Methodist Church, 6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Va. 22003 at 4 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2012.