Obituary of Louise Goforth Heberling

On July 2, 2019, Frances Louise Heberling, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, went home to her Savior just 10 days before her 98th birthday.

Louise was born July 12, 1921, to George and Bertie Goforth in Lee County, Virginia, just across the state line from Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, where she graduated as valedictorian of her high school in 1939. After business school, Louise served as a civilian in the Navy’s Bureau of Ships, where she supervised the procurement of supplies for D-Day Landing Ship Tanks during World War II. On September 6, 1942, Louise married Emory Donald “Don” Heberling. They moved to Riverside, California in 1951, where they raised two sons and two daughters before Don passed away in 1973.

After building her own real estate business in Riverside, Louise married again on July 27, 1984, to Wayne West, and moved to Camas, Washington in 1987, where they raised miniature horses. She lived there, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, for her remaining years.

Louise had a passion for learning, and especially for studying and teaching the Bible. Over the years, she taught many Bible studies and classes, including 12 years teaching the Prayer League Program on KBBL Riverside and over 25 years teaching a Bible class at Bethel Community Church in Washougal, which she continued until she was 96. She prayed every day for each of her loved ones. Louise was known for her great love for Jesus and for others, her memorizing of Scripture, her beautiful smile and firm grip, and her sweetness of spirit.

Louise was preceded in death by both her husbands, Don and Wayne, as well as her parents and seven siblings. She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Nancy Gerecz, Don and Ruth Heberling, Bob and Becky Heberling, and Sharon and Don Grant, as well as fourteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Monday, July 8, 11:00 am at Bethel Community Church in Washougal, followed by a reception at the church.

In lieu of flowers, Louise has requested donations be made in her honor to Bethel Community Church (PO Box 388, Washougal, WA 98671) or to Dallas Theological Seminary (3909 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75204-6411).