William C. Heidenreich

William C. Heidenreich, 92, of Hanover, NH, died at home on July 9, surrounded by his family. He was born May 28, 1911 in Terre Haute, IN, the son of William and Sadie Catherine (Evelo) Heidenreich. He lived for a short time in Texas after the death of his mother, but spent most of his youth in Terre Haute, graduating from Wiley High School in 1929, and receiving a BS in Chemical Engineering in 1933 from Rose Polytechnic Institute (now Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology), where he was elected to Tau Beta Pi, an honorary engineering society, and was president of his graduating class. In 1932, Rosa Elizabeth Carr (of Terre Haute, Indiana) and he eloped and were married in Charleston, IL. He was predeceased by an older brother, Alexander, in 1993, and is survived by two younger brothers, Carl and Ralph, both of South Charleston, WV. He worked for the Union Carbide Corporation, beginning in 1934, in South Charleston, WV, and later in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada; Niagara Falls, NY; New York City; Monterrey, Mexico; Calcutta, India; Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium; and Geneva, Switzerland. He was a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and a fellow of the American Institute of Chemists. After retiring from Union Carbide in 1971, Bill and Rosa renovated a farmhouse near East Corinth, VT and were very active gardeners and community members. He enjoyed designing and building solar energy systems. He was Energy Coordinator for the Town of Topsham, an energetic member of the town planning commission, trustee of the East Corinth Congregational Church, and member of Rotary for over fifty years. He was known to the entire community for his outgoing nature and helpfulness. During their retirement Bill and Rosa also served many challenging overseas assignments with the International Executive Service Corps, including work in Thailand, Taiwan, India, Brazil, and Mexico. He and Rosa enjoyed taking courses together at CCV and ILEAD. Since 1999 they have lived at The Greens in Hanover, NH. Besides his wife, Rosa, Bill leaves a daughter, Toby, of Waterbury Center, VT; two sons, John and Jim, of East Corinth, VT; fifteen grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, July 19th, at the East Corinth Congregational Church, at 3 pm. Those unable to attend may post memories and view photos of his life on the family website, www.heidenreich-hill.org. Burial will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Bill's memory may be made to the East Corinth Congregational Church or to VNA-VNH Hospice of Lebanon, NH.