Charles Heaton, age 92, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA, passed away after a brief illness in Huntsville, AL on Friday, June 11th. Born in Centralia, IL to Wilber and Nina Huddleston Heaton he developed a love of music early in life. After earning a Bachelor of Music at DePauw University, he continued his studies at Union Theological Seminary in NYC, where he completed both the Master and Doctor of Sacred Music, with a two-year stint in the U.S. Army during that time. He became a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists in 1957 and continued to be active in the organization the rest of his life.
He served as Minister of Music at Second Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, MO from 1956-1972 and Organist/Director at East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA from 1972 until his retirement in 1993. A prolific writer and editor, his expertise is found in the “Hymnbook for Christian Worship, A Guidebook to Worship Services of Sacred Music, How to Build a Church Choir, American Organist, Clavier, and “The Diapason,” to name just a few. He is well-known in Pittsburgh for performing more than a dozen “Music ‘til Midnight” concerts.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Jane Pugh Heaton, and his ashes will join hers at Crystal Lake, MI where they spent many happy summers. He is survived by their three children, Rebecca Turner (Patrick) of Herndon, VA, Charles “Hud” Heaton, Jr. (Miki) of Brierfield, AL, and Matthew Heaton (Shannon) of Medford, MA; along with four grandchildren, Gregory Turner (Garrette) of Falls Church, VA, Gwendolyn Turner of Roanoke, VA, Katharine Heaton Johnson (Patrick) of Olive Branch, MS, Nigel Heaton of Medford, MA; two great-grandsons, Stafford and Charles Turner, of Falls Church, VA, and his sister, Jane Heaton, of Alexandria, VA.
A memorial service will be held in September at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA.
