Edward Julius Heins

Edward J. Heins, Jr. of Charleston, SC, husband of Eva Urbanek Heins and retired owner and president of E.J. Heins and Son, Inc., Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning, died June 26, 2013. His Funeral Service will be held Sunday, June 30, 2013 in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC at 3:00 p.m. Interment, Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends, Saturday, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m at the chapel.

E.J. was born in Charleston, SC on February 22 1927, son of Edward J. Heins, Sr. and Grace Money Heins. He grew up working in the plumbing business his father founded in 1929. Charleston was confined mostly to the peninsula at that time. Working in many residences from the Battery to the Citadel E.J. got to know and made many good friends from many walks of life. In the late 30's and early 40's he spent much of his free time on Folly Beach where one of his uncles owned some cottages and another one was a U.S. Marshal. He and his friends hang out jitterbugging at Rainbow Corners, dancing at the old pier and playing half rubber on the beach. World War II saw many of his friends go to war. He was too young for the Army but left Porter Military Academy in 1944 at age 17 to join the U.S. Merchant Marine. He served in South America, in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, as well as in the near East. What many thought was a picnic turned out to be a deadly game, with the merchant mariners losing over 1,800 ships and over 9,000 men to submarines and dive bombers. E.J. came home to work in the family business but in 1952 the sea called again and he became chief plumber on the brand new American flagship and passenger liner the SS United States, the ship that broke the all time speed record and won the coveted Blue Ribbon. On one of his trips home the Army drafted the by then 27 year old and sent him to Salzburg Austria. There he met his future wife Eva on a blind double date arranged by one of her co-workers at the American Consulate. The Austrian Peace Treaty, and the fact that all Allied forces had to leave Austria, hastened their decision to get married. In September 1955 E.J. brought his new bride home to Charleston.

Even though he had some months left to finish his Army service, fate intervened when his father had a heart attack and he had to take over the family business. Eva helped out and joined the business. Next year son Eddie the 3rd was on the way and Eva went back to Austria, had the baby there and brought him back 2 month old to meet his dad. E.J. and Eva continued in the business as it changed from mostly residential to industrial. E.J. became active in the community and was past president of the Greater Charleston Master Plumbers. He also served as chairman of the local, and member of the State Plumbing and Gas Code Board of Examiners. He was past director of the South Carolina Mechanical Contractors Association, was a member of the Elks Club and was past president of the Deutscher Bruederliche Bund, a German heritage club. He also was president of the Charleston West Ashley Jaycees.

In 1985 he became very involved in the cause of the U.S. World War II Merchant Mariners, who in spite of their heavy losses were never granted veterans status. As president of the East Coast Chapter of the U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans of WWII and coordinator of a national grass roots effort for Justice for the U.S. Merchant Mariners of WWII, he made many trips to Washington and attended congressional hearings on their behalf. His efforts in no small way contributed to President Clinton in 1998 finally granting veterans status to all U.S. Merchant Mariners of WWII. E.J. also instigated and chaired the committee to bring the World War II Liberty Ship SS John W. Brown to Charleston for a 5 day Portfest in 1998. Age and Alzheimer took their toll and E.J. has been a resident of the Veterans Victory House Nursing Home in Walterboro, SC for almost a year enjoying the company of the other veterans.

E.J. Heins, Jr. is survived by his wife, Eva Urbanek Heins, son, Eduard J. K. Heins (Susan), serving in the Pacific, brother, Donald L. Heins of Charleston and 2 sisters; Betty J. Pardue of Garfield AR, and Eleanor Browder (William) of Carrolton, GA as well as several nieces in different states.The family wants to thank the wonderful staff and nurses at the Veterans Victory House for their care and compassion. Donations may be made to the Lane Victory Foundation of the U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans WWII at P.O. Box 629, San Pedro, CA 90733-9916, the Alzheimer's Association, South Carolina Chapter, 4124 Clemson Blvd., Ste. L, Anderson, SC 29621 or to a Charity of your choice.