JACK W. HESS

Jack Wendell Hess died May 19, 2014 at Guardian Angel Homes, Richland. He was 87 years of age. Jack was born March 29, 1927 to Jack and Hortense Griffin Hess in Lancing, Michigan. He was an only child.

Jack attended high school in Charlotte and graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1945. He joined the Navy the next week and trained at Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois. He was discharged in February 1946. He attended the University of Michigan.

Jack married Kathleen Berry on October 22, 1949 in Angola, Indiana. Their marriage lasted 61 years until her death on June 6, 2011. They spent their early married life in Detroit, Michigan where he worked as an engineer at the Fermi nuclear plant for APDA and he did research into the effects of air bad explosions on hearing while at Eaton, Yale & Towne.

Jack and Kay moved to Richland in January, 1971. Jack worked as a senior engineer for Westinghouse until his retirement in 1989. He was involved for many years as chairman of the Allied Arts Sidewalk Show. In his early years he was a licensed pilot until he contracted Type 2 diabetes in 1969 and was a proud member of the Civil Air Patrol in Michigan. He enjoyed reading about a variety of subjects, writing, the arts, wood carving, and being a Ham radio operator.

Jack is survived by his five children: Jeri Randle of Finley, WA; Brian Hess of Las Vegas, NV; Diane Tim Homola of Battle Ground, WA; Steve Mary Hess of Maple Valley, WA; and Robert Hess of Richland; 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife and one great grandson, Joshua Homola.

The family gives special thanks and recognition to the staff at Guardian Angels for their care of Jack the past two months.

Memorial contributions may be made to Allied Arts or the Richland Library.

The funeral will be Friday, May 23, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. Einan's at Sunset. Visitation will be one hour before the funeral with burial following at Sunset Gardens.