Billy A. Heaton

Billy A. Heaton
Lt. Col. (Ret) U.S. Army

Augusta, GA – Lt. Col. (Ret) Billy A. Heaton, beloved husband of Mrs. Linda Y. Heaton entered into rest Monday, August 7, 2017.

Additional survivors include his daughter Monica H. Boyd, son-in-law Dr. Michael Boyd, two step children, Lisa Rhodes and Christopher T. Baldridge, grandchildren, Dr. William Boyd and wife Catie, Charlotte Boyd, and Emily Boyd Lyday and husband Paul, step-grandchildren, Kacey Rhodes, Matthew Rhodes, Lauren Rhodes, Kristin Baldridge, Christopher Baldridge, Jr., and Morgan Baldridge, 3 great grandchildren and 7 step great grandchildren.

Lt. Col. Heaton was born in Toccoa, Georgia and made Augusta his home in 1972. He received his B.S. degree from Piedmont College, a Master’s degree from the University of Missouri and did post graduate work at the University of Georgia. A career Army officer with 18 years commissioned service and 9 years enlisted service, he was a veteran of the Korean War, Vietnam War, and as a member of the Expeditionary Forces, participated in the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and had the honor of taking the first convoy of troops into the state of Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. He was the recipient of 24 awards and decorations to include the Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal, The Expeditionary Forces Medal and three awards of the Good Conduct Medal. He also retired from the Medical College of Georgia.

Throughout the 1980’s he was known as “Mr. Baseball” due to his one man effort to return professional baseball to Augusta. He succeeded by building Heaton Stadium at Lake Olmstead and the 1988 season opened to a “packed crowd”. The following year, the Augusta Pirates won the South Atlantic League Championship and continued with success.

An avid ballroom dancer and teacher, he and Linda owned and operated Bilinda Ballroom Arts Dance Studio for 11 years. They also developed, implemented, and taught ballroom dance at Augusta State University for 8 years.

Among other accomplishments, he was a published author of the highly patriotic, extremely factual, non-fiction book “Once There Was An America” published by Outskirts Press, Parker Colorado.

He was a member of Belvedere (SC) First Baptist Church, the National Dance Teachers of America, American Legion Post 205, Elks Lodge 205, and the Augusta Green Jackets Hall of Fame (4th inductee).

The family will receive guests at the funeral home on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M.

The service will be at Belvedere First Baptist Church on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. with Rev. John Meyer officiating. Entombment with full military honors will follow at Pine View Memorial Gardens, 450 W. Five Notch Rd., North Augusta, SC. Honorary pallbearers will be dance students and former students.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Augusta Chapter of the Salvation Army, 1384 Greene St., Augusta, GA 30901 or to the American Cancer Society, 2607 Commons Blvd, Augusta, GA 30909.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com