Colonel Charles Heeter, 73, of Cleveland, Ohio, died at 8:07 a.m. Tuesday at his home.

Born May 19, 1933, in Butler, he was the son of Colonel Charles and Gonzaga Amelia Brehm Heeter.

He was an Air Force veteran and was self-employed as the owner and operator of United Mail Systems.

Mr. Heeter was a member of St. Vitus Roman Catholic Church in Cleveland.

He enjoyed flying and ballroom dancing.

Surviving are his former wife, Shirley Skrove Heeter of Pittsburgh; a son, Gary C. Heeter and his wife, Tammy, of Dalton, Minn.; a daughter, Suzanne Heeter of Pittsburgh, and three sisters, Toni Torres of Santa Rosa, Calif., Patti Shea of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Kathleen Margolios of Palm Springs, Calif. Also surviving are three grandsons, Nick, Lucas and Samuel Heeter; a granddaughter, Lauren Heeter; six nieces, and four nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Craig Heeter, and a brother, Robert Heeter.

<B>HEETER</B> — Friends of Colonel Charles Heeter, who died Tuesday, May 1, 2007, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home</B>, 124 E. North St. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at noon Friday at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church with the Rev. Pierre Falkenhan officiating. Burial will follow at the St. Peter Roman Catholic Cemetery.Contributions may be made to American Heart Association.Members of the VFW Post 249 and the American Legion Post 778 will conduct military honors at the cemetery.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.