Van was the youngest of four children born to Charlie Roberson Hearn and Lu Hettie Gardner. After graduating from Bells High School, he joined the Air Force when the Korean War broke out and served from 1949-1953 as an aircracft mechanic. He married Joyce Carter on 5 Oct. 1951. The family had two daughters. Van was an aerospace engineer and worked for AiRearch/Allied Signal, traveled extensively, including nine months in Vietnam with the M.A.S.H. units there, repairing the genderatiors which powered the sixy bed mobile hospital units. As a field representitive, he also traveled to Norway, Sweden, Germany, Argentina and many other countries, making friends everywhere he went. But he always returned to Arizona, the state he loved, where he retired in 1990. Some of his happiest moments were spent on the tennis court at Encanto Park, playing poker with his friends and family, and spending time with his seven grandchildren, who were all crazy about him. He had a great sense of humor, was loving and generous and could fix anything, from a clock, to a car to a jet. If a part wasn't working well, he'd develop one that did. He loved steak and crab legs, making people laugh. He asked us to "remember the good times" and we will, Dad. We all miss you and are gratefull your love and the time we had together.
Van was the youngest of four children born to Charlie Roberson Hearn and Lu Hettie Gardner. After graduating from Bells High School, he joined the Air Force when the Korean War broke out and served from 1949-1953 as an aircracft mechanic. He married Joyce Carter on 5 Oct. 1951. The family had two daughters. Van was an aerospace engineer and worked for AiRearch/Allied Signal, traveled extensively, including nine months in Vietnam with the M.A.S.H. units there, repairing the genderatiors which powered the sixy bed mobile hospital units. As a field representitive, he also traveled to Norway, Sweden, Germany, Argentina and many other countries, making friends everywhere he went. But he always returned to Arizona, the state he loved, where he retired in 1990. Some of his happiest moments were spent on the tennis court at Encanto Park, playing poker with his friends and family, and spending time with his seven grandchildren, who were all crazy about him. He had a great sense of humor, was loving and generous and could fix anything, from a clock, to a car to a jet. If a part wasn't working well, he'd develop one that did. He loved steak and crab legs, making people laugh. He asked us to "remember the good times" and we will, Dad. We all miss you and are gratefull your love and the time we had together.
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