Wing, Alberta (Heiss)

WING, HEISS

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2005 at 21:40:06

Memorial services for Alberta Wing, 91, of Pella were held June 3 at the Second Refromed Church in Pella. The Rev. Steven Mathonnet-Vander Well officiated and the Dr. William R. Wing, remembering. Davis Folkerts was the organist and Dale Jansen was soloist.
Committal service was held at Graceland Cemetery in Pella.

Alberta Marie Heiss was born on February 2, 1912 at Kenmore, New York, a suburb of Buffalo, New York. She was the first of two children born to Ray H. and Regina Marie Albert Heiss. She attended the Kenmore Public Schools and graduated from Kenmore High School with a New York State Regents Diploma. In 1934 she graduated from the Music Conservatory at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio with a Bachelor of Music Degree, specializing in organ.

While attending Oberlin College, Alberta met William Guy Wing. On September 2, 1939 Alberta and William were united in marriage at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Buffalo. Professor William G. Wing began teaching French at Central College. Alberta gave piano lessons, played the organ at the Baptist Church, and was a homemaker for their two children: William Ray, who was born October 15, 1943 and Mary Margaret, who was born January 23, 1945.

Then in 1972, a new door opened and Alberta became involved with Brailling. A visually handicapped young man needed someone to "read" for him. After a year of study and certification by the Library of Congress, she went on to learn the music code, which took another year. In 1974, Alberta became a Certified Literary and Music Braillist for the Library of Congress, one of only 20 in the United States. Through the Library of Congress, the Iowa Department for the Blind and the National Braille Association, Alberta came to know of blind musicians from all over the United States, Canada and Wales. In 1988, Alberta received the Governor's Volunteer Award for her outstanding service to the State of Iowa. She also received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Braille Association. She was recognized as the first recipient of the Elizabeth Perowsky Award in 1997. An award established to recognize people providing outstanding service to the blind.

Alberta was a faithful member of the Second Reformed Church of Pella. She was a member of the PEO Sisterhood for 55 years, 30 years with Chapter BU and 25 years with Chapter ND. She was a charter member of ND and had served in many and various offices in both chapters.

In March of 2002, Alberta and William moved to Hilltop Manor South, and more recently, in April of 2003, to Hilltop Manor North. On May 31, Alberta passed away at the Pella Regional Health Center following surgery four days earlier.

Alberta is survived by her husband of 64 years, Dr. William G. Wing; their two children: William R. Wing and his wife, Linda of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Mary M. Slater and her husband, Paul Slater of Ogden, Iowa; three grandchildren: Of her original family, she leaves her sister-in-law, Jeanette Heiss of Kenmore, New York.

Alberta was preceded in death by her parents, Ray H. and Regina Heiss and her younger brother, Ray H. Heiss, Jr. Alberta was a life-long giver of herself and her knowledge.

For those desiring, memorials may be designated for the Second Reformed Church of Pella.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella.

The Pella Chronicle, June 17, 2003