1922
John
2013
John R. Hess
August 7, 1922 — May 11, 2013
John R. Hess, age 90, of Harlingen passed away Saturday, May 11, 2013.
Johnny Hess was born in Houston on August 7, 1922 to Alvin C. and Helen Seddon Hess.
He graduated from San Jacinto High School in Houston in 1940 and then attended Texas A & M University for one year before dropping out to enter the Army. He served in the Army Air Corp from 1941 until the end of World War II. He was a pilot and served in the Southwest Pacific Theater. After being discharged in August of 1945 he joined the Army National Guard where he served for 17 years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
While stationed in Mobile, Alabama he met Lieutenant Helen Graff. They were married in Houston in 1945.
In July of 1948 they moved to Raymondville and opened Johnny’s Western Auto Associate Store. In 1965 they purchased the Western Auto Associate store on 1st Street in Harlingen. Eventually the Western Auto stores became True Value and Johnny’s True Value moved to Tyler Street in Harlingen. He continued working and managing the family’s various hardware stores until his retirement in the early 90’s.
While living in Raymondville he was very active in civic work serving on the Raymondville school board, the Navigation District, and was involved in the Jaycees and Lions Club.
John was preceded in death by his oldest child Jamie Ras Griffith and is survived by his loving wife of 67 years Helen Hess and their children: John R. (Liz) Hess Jr. of La Feria, Gaye Noyala-Ross of Raymondville, James (Melinda) Hess of Harlingen, Carl (Joyce) Hess of Leander, Edwin (Cathy) Hess of Seguin, Donald (Joe) Hess of Orange, California, and Serena (Michael) Hess-Cole of Dallas. He had 16 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Visitation hours will be held on Monday, May 27, 2013 from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with a Rosary at 7:00 PM at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be held at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, 11:00 AM, Tuesday, May 28, 2013 with Full Military Honors.
Johnny Hess was born in Houston on August 7, 1922 to Alvin C. and Helen Seddon Hess.
He graduated from San Jacinto High School in Houston in 1940 and then attended Texas A & M University for one year before dropping out to enter the Army. He served in the Army Air Corp from 1941 until the end of World War II. He was a pilot and served in the Southwest Pacific Theater. After being discharged in August of 1945 he joined the Army National Guard where he served for 17 years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
While stationed in Mobile, Alabama he met Lieutenant Helen Graff. They were married in Houston in 1945.
In July of 1948 they moved to Raymondville and opened Johnny’s Western Auto Associate Store. In 1965 they purchased the Western Auto Associate store on 1st Street in Harlingen. Eventually the Western Auto stores became True Value and Johnny’s True Value moved to Tyler Street in Harlingen. He continued working and managing the family’s various hardware stores until his retirement in the early 90’s.
While living in Raymondville he was very active in civic work serving on the Raymondville school board, the Navigation District, and was involved in the Jaycees and Lions Club.
John was preceded in death by his oldest child Jamie Ras Griffith and is survived by his loving wife of 67 years Helen Hess and their children: John R. (Liz) Hess Jr. of La Feria, Gaye Noyala-Ross of Raymondville, James (Melinda) Hess of Harlingen, Carl (Joyce) Hess of Leander, Edwin (Cathy) Hess of Seguin, Donald (Joe) Hess of Orange, California, and Serena (Michael) Hess-Cole of Dallas. He had 16 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Visitation hours will be held on Monday, May 27, 2013 from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with a Rosary at 7:00 PM at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be held at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, 11:00 AM, Tuesday, May 28, 2013 with Full Military Honors.
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