Roscoe Vernon Heins, local dentist well known for all his charitable work in Kitsap County, died Jan. 22. He was 91. He was born in Corder, Mo., on Sept. 15, 1917. He was the youngest of three sisters and four brothers.
At age 17 he entered the University of Nebraska. His university education was put on hold in 1943 when he joined the service as an Army Air Cadet, volunteering for bomber school after basic training. Based out of Norwich, England, he and his crew performed 16 bombing missions over Nazi Germany and occupied France. His crew was then transferred to a base in Italy, flying an additional 16 missions over Romania, Hungary, Austria, and Germany.
He married Helen Abdnor, on Dec. 30, 1949, after graduating from the School of Dentistry in 1949, passing the Nebraska dental boards and setting up a practice in Poulsbo.
Heins’ dental practice remained at the Moe Street location until his retirement in 1984. Helen, when not at home raising their three children, was his dental assistant, receptionist and bookkeeper by his side. Heins was instrumental in bringing fluoridation to Poulsbo’s water supply in 1959, perhaps his proudest professional achievement.
Heins had a passion for volunteering. He was a member of the Harrison Medical Center Board of Directors for 27 years, serving as its chairman for three. He helped charter the Kiwanis Club of Greater Poulsbo, the Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce, and the Poulsbo Yacht Club. Additionally, he established the Kiwanis Club of Greater Poulsbo Foundation and served on the North Kitsap School Board. A lifelong Lutheran, Heins was a First Lutheran Church member in Poulsbo for more than 50 years.
He is survived by his wife Helen, daughter Lisa Ruecker, sons Cory and Derek, four grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 31 at First Lutheran Church in. In lieu of flowers, the family knows Roscoe would be honored to have memorials made to Hospice of Kitsap County (P.O. Box 3416, Silverdale, WA 98383-3416) or any of the organizations noted above.
