Rose Mary (Allen) Heilmann

Rose Mary Heilmann, 85, of Huntington, West Virginia passed away from a sudden illness on Saturday, July 19, 2025, surrounded by her family at WakeMed in Raleigh, North Carolina.

She was born Rose Mary Allen in Skelton, WV on May 2, 1940, to Robert Harold Allen and Elma Elizabeth (Walker) Allen and spent her childhood in Belle, WV where she graduated from Dupont High School in 1958.  She then studied nursing, graduating from the Charleston General Hospital School of Nursing.  She met Charles E. Heilmann while working in Morgantown, WV whom she married in 1965.  They lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Panama City, Panama during Charles's service in the Air Force before settling in Huntington to raise their family.

Rose Mary spent her life caring for others and devoted her time to her family.  She enjoyed sewing, baking, and spending time with her grandchildren.  She loved her home state of West Virginia and traveled it extensively.  Some of her happiest times were singing around a campfire in Greenbrier County with four generations of the family. She was the number one authority on loading a dishwasher. She did not like to miss Jeopardy or Masterpiece Theater and tried to convince everyone to watch it, especially when Poldark was on. She loved to consult her grandchildren for help with her word games.  She was an avid West Virginia University sports fan and would even listen to a radio broadcast of the games while watching it on TV. Rose Mary was a long-time member of Baptist Temple and sang soprano for many seasons with Huntington's Musical Arts Guild.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, their sons Nathan T. Heilmann and infant Charles E. Heilmann II, granddaughter Rory Belle Heilmann, and a brother, Glenn L. Allen.  She is survived by her children and their spouses: John and Blair Heilmann of Cary, NC and Susan and Gregory Holsclaw of Lafayette, CO, daughter-in-law Rachel Heilmann of Denver, CO, her grandchildren Julia and Ty Heilmann, Elliott and Simon Holsclaw, and Charlie Heilmann, her brother Robert Allen Jr. and his wife Lois, special former daughter-in-law Erica Heilmann, and a host of loving nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.  In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to The Rory Belle Foundation,8275 E 11th Avenue, #200621, Denver, CO 80220.

Services will be held on Monday, July 28th  at 1:00 p.m. at Beard Mortuary.  Burial will follow in Woodmere Memorial Park. The family will recieve friends on Monday from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. at Beard Mortuary.