Lt. Gen. Edward J. Heinz USAF (Ret.) passed away on June 23, 2025 at the Falcons Landing retirement community in Sterling, Virginia. He was born on August 30, 1932 in Hastings, Minnesota to Henry and Ethel (nee: Powers) Heinz.

Ed graduated from high school in 1950. He attended the University of Minnesota on a football scholarship and completed the ROTC program there while earning his Bachelors degree in economics and geography while also completing Reserve Officer Training Corps requirements. Following his graduation from college in 1954, he married Gloria Gergen, his high school sweetheart.

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force upon graduation and began his military career in intelligence with his first assignment at Reese AFB in Lubbock, Texas. Ed completed Squadron Officer School in 1961, Air Command and Staff College in 1966, and the Air War College in 1974. He also earned his Masters degree in public administration from Auburn University in 1974.

Throughout his military career, Ed was tasked with increasingly responsible assignments at various locations around the world, including: the 67th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron at Yokota Air Base in Japan; Headquarters 5th Air Base at Fuchu Air Station in Japan; Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley AFB in Virginia; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) 6th Allied Tactical Air Force in Turkey; the 12th Reconnaissance Intelligence Technical Squadron at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam; the Office of the Assistant Chief of Intelligence Staff at the Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, DC; the 544th Aerospace Reconnaissance Technical Wing and Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt AFB in Nebraska; the North American Aerospace Defense Command/U.S. Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson AFB in Colorado; and Headquarters U.S. European Command in West Germany.

Representing his honorable contributions to the intelligence community, Ed received several decorations and awards, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the prestigious Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster to name a few.

Ed retired from the military in 1990 and served in senior roles in the private sector for both Lockheed Martin and General Electric. He fully retired in 1998 and settled in Leesburg, Virginia where he and his beloved wife enjoyed hosting their extended family when not traveling the world together.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, who passed on February 13, 2022.

He is survived by his five children and their spouses, Lori (Tom) Ruff, Carol Heinz, Diana (Mike) Langhorne, Leslie (Jeff) Knapp, and Jeff ( Sharon) Heinz; his ten grandchildren and their spouses, Tyler (Andrew) Scontras, Sam Ruff, Zach (Erin) Langhorne, Anna Langhorne, Sam Langhorne, Drew (Eva) Knapp, Sarah Knapp, Ashley Knapp, Olivia Heinz, and Will Heinz; as well as his great-grandchildren, Leander Podaras-Knapp and Shea Welling Scontras.

For those wishing to make a financial contribution in remembrance of Ed and Gloria, the family asks that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project and/or the Alzheimer's Association (links to both of which can be found under the Memorial Donations tab on the left hand side of this page).

Ed and Gloria are to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.