Arthur Thomas Heitlauf

Art (Chubby) Heitlauf passed away peacefully at his home in Redmond, WA on March 18, 2012 surrounded by his family after a long struggle with congestive heart failure. Art was born on September 19, 1924 in Louisville, KY and attended St. Xavier High school where he excelled at sports and ultimately became one of the first inductees into St. X’s athletic Hall of Fame. He graduated in 1943 with a full scholarship to the University of Maryland but unfortunately, WWII intervened. During the war, Art was a radio operator/waist gunner on a B-17 for the 8th Air Force stationed in England. His plane, “Carry me Back”, flew 15 combat missions over Germany. After the war, Chubby attended the University of Louisville and continued his athletic success as captain of the only undefeated football team in U of L’s history. He graduated U of L with a major in Business and a minor in education and then used both degrees as an economics teacher at Flaget High School in Louisville. He also helped coach Flaget’s state champion football team which included such players as Paul Hornung and Howard Schnellenberger. Art married Virginia, his loving wife of 62 years, in 1949. He had a long and successful business career (1952-1985) in sales and management with General Electric Co. in Louisville, Los Angeles and Seattle and retired as a Regional Sales Manager in 1985. His remaining years were filled with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and garage sales. Art is survived by his wife Virginia; his children: Art Jr., Dale, Gary, Debbie, Don and Greg; their spouses; 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held Saturday, March 24 at Faith Lutheran Church in Redmond, WA at 4:00pm. Donations in his name may be made to the American Heart Association.