Dr. David Hearin

HEARIN - David L. Hearin of Alpharetta passed away July 19, 2006 after a brief illness. He was 88. He was born February 24, 1918 in Jeffersonville, Indiana to the late Ellis R. and Bessie B. Hearin, and grew up in Decatur and Macon, GA. Hearin graduated from Lanier High School in Macon, where he played football. In 1939, he received his BA from Mercer University, and was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He received an MD from the Medical College of Georgia in 1943. Upon completion of medical school, Dr. Hearin entered the U.S. Navy as an Lt (JG) and was attached to the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division as a Battalion Surgeon. He landed on Iwo Jima with the third wave, watched the flag-raising on Mt. Suribachi on his 27th birthday and was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in that battle. After WW II, Dr. Hearin returned to Atlanta where he worked at Georgia Baptist Hospital. He met Mary Claire Hall, and they married in 1947. They moved to Philadelphia where he completed a Residency in Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon completion in 1948, the Hearins returned to Atlanta and he established a private dermatology practice, which he maintained until 1985, first on Peachtree Street in Midtown and later in Buckhead. David and Mary moved to Sandy Springs in 1957, where they had a wonderful marriage until her death in 1982. Dr. Hearin served as Head of the Department of Dermatology at the VA Hospital in Decatur, and served as a Dermatology consultant to the Hospital, conducting weekly dermatology clinics until fully retiring with 37 years of service in 1988. Dr. Hearin was active in his community and church. He was a 40-year member of the Sandy Springs United Methodist Church, serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees when the current sanctuary was built and again when the Hitson Memorial Activity Center was constructed. He served on the Board of the Sandy Springs UMC Counseling Center. He was a Little League Coach and volunteer team doctor for the Sandy Springs High football team during the 1960's and early 1970's. In recent years, Hearin delivered Meals on Wheels to home-bound residents of the Alpharetta area. In 1984, Dr. Hearin married Caroline Hearin, whom he loved dearly. She kept him young and energetic, expanding his interests to include travel. They had wonderful trips to Alaska and Europe, and they loved to walk the beach at Daytona. Together they were active in the Joy Class at Sandy Springs UMC, and in the Alpharetta First UMC Cobb Sunday School Class after their move to the Crabapple area. Dr. Hearing always had at least 1 hobby or project that kept him busy. Some included fishing, bird hunting, taxidermy, rebuilding a truck engine, working land he owned near Athens, gardening, cooking, and of course walking his dog, Smokey. He played tennis until he was 83, and enjoyed bridge, the Braves, the Falcons, and the Georgia Bulldogs. "David, Dad, Grandpa, PaPa" will be greatly missed by his proud family and friends. In addition to his loving wife Caroline, Dr. Hearin is survived by son David and daughter-in-law Linda of San Antonio, TX; granddaughter Elizabeth "Libby" Mata and her husband Alex of San Antonio, granddaughter Mary Hearin of Baltimore, Maryland; daughter, Nancy Hearin Dyal, son-in-law David and grandsons Jim and Richard all of Loganville; son, Richard and daughter-in-law Phyllis of Alpharetta, granddaughter Amy Barker, her husband Roger and great-granddaughter Ryann all of Cumming, and grandsons Sam Boettcher of Duluth, Chris Hearin of Alpharetta, and Nick Hearin of Atlanta; step-son Mike Haney and his wife Bonnie and their children Mark and Jonathan of Thomasville, and Rachel Haney Olson and Stephen Olson, great-grandchildren Anna Marie, Gabriel, and Christavella. Also, Dr. Hearin has a special sister-in-law, Ruth Hall Knox of Thomson, numerous nieces and nephews and countless friends from church and the community. Service will be held Friday, July 28, 2006 at 11:00 AM at Alpharetta First United Methodist Church. Dr. Don Martin officiating. Interment will follow at Georgia National Cemetery. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, friends and family who are so inclined make a small donation to a charity of their choice in honor of this good man. Northside Chapel Funeral Directors and Crematory, Roswell 770-645-1414

Dr. David Hearin

February 24, 1918 - July 19, 2006