Bernice Roselyn Reel-Heiny

July 20, 1930 – May 27, 2026

Bernice Roselyn Reel-Heiny, 95, Noblesville, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at The Crossings at Noblesville. She was born on July 20, 1930, to Frank J. and Mildred E. (Barnette) Osborn in rural Noblesville.

Bernice was raised on a farm near Refuge Christian Church. She graduated from Noblesville High School and married Forest A. Reel two months later on July 18, 1948. They had planned on being married at Refuge Christian Church, but a tornado went through Noblesville two days before their wedding and severely damaged the church. They were, however, married as scheduled at the Noblesville Christian Church.

Bernice worked for the Indiana Gas Company as a secretary in 1957, and at the end of the year she started working for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. She worked there from 1957 to 1987 from which she retired. In 1987, she and Forest moved to Hemphill, Texas. She and Forest attended Hemphill Christian Church where she enjoyed Ladies Fellowship and volunteering for fundraisers. While in Texas, she also enjoyed crafting of all sorts, quilting, sightseeing, volunteering part time at the local craft shop, and fishing for crappie on Toledo Bend Reservoir.

She and Forest moved back to Noblesville in 2004 where she continued her quilting. She entered her favorite quilt in the Hamilton County Fair when she returned to Indiana. Her quilt won Grand Champion. She was extremely proud of that accomplishment.

Bernice lost Forest to leukemia in 2005. Bernice later married her first-grade sweetheart, Virgil Glen Heiny, on Valentine’s Day 2009 at Clarksville Christian Church. She and Glen were married 17 years.

Bernice was a member of Refuge Christian Church until 2009. She joined Clarksville Christian Church in 2009 to the present.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Forest Arnold Reel, Sr.; son, Forest A. “Butch” Reel, II; and sister, Gertrude Eisman.

She is survived by her husband, Virgil Glen Heiny; children Glenn (Beth) Reel and Linda D. (Steve) Nicholson; stepchildren, Rex (Daphne) Heiny, Dana (Rick) Figg, and Jerry (Kay) Heiny; grandchildren, Steve Nicholson II, James Nicholson, Jennifer (Rick) Nicholson Hughes, Joshua (Candice) Nicholson, Forest “Butchie” (Angela) Reel III, Stephanie (Troy) Reel Holt, Jeffrey Reel, Jeremy Reel; Lisa (Josh) Reel Cornelius; several step grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and several other family members too numerous to count.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Randall & Roberts Funeral Home, 1150 Logan St., Noblesville. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville.

Memorial contributions may be made to Clarksville Christian Church, 16600 Lehr St., Noblesville, IN 46060 (clarksvillechristianchurch.org).

Condolences: randallroberts.com