Obituary of Raymond Hess
Raymond Arlo Hess, age 101, of Spirit Lake, passed away Monday, September 30, 2019 at his winter home in Scottsdale , AZ. Although a gentleman of few words, he was intelligent, wise and a devoted loving husband and father.
Ray was born on March 24, 1918 in Kingsley, IA. to Raymond E. and Clara (Manson) Hess. He was united in marriage to Kay Hearn of Kingsley on July 26, 1957, in Minneapolis, MN. The couple adopted their daughter, Mary, in October of 1959.
Ray graduated from Kingsley High School in 1935 and attended Morningside College in Sioux City, IA. before transferring and graduating with a BS in Business from Northwestern University in Chicago in 1939. After graduation, he returned to Kingsley and worked for the First Trust & Savings Bank of Moville, IA.
In February of 1941, Ray joined Company L 133rd Infantry, 34th Division of the Iowa Air National Guard in Sioux City, IA. He then served in the Army Air Corp during WWII as Aide to General James P. Hodges, Commander of the 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force at Headquarters in Norwich, England. After the war ended, he returned to the States in June of 1945 and continued working with General Hodges who was the commanding General of the Western Flying Training Command in Santa Ana, CA. until assigned to inactive status in Dec of 1945.
Ray returned to active status from May of 1951 to June of 1953 during the Korean War. He served at the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Headquarters in Omaha NE. & then as an Air Force Staff Judge Advocate at SAC Headquarters, 2nd Air Force at Barksdale Field near Shreveport, LA. He again returned to inactive status and later retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was most proud that every generation of the Hess lineage had served in the Armed Forces.
After his release from active duty in Dec of 1945, he and his brother, Dean attended and in 1947 graduated from the University of Iowa Law School, returned to Kingsley and practiced law for Hess & Hess Law Firm until his retirement in 1976.He and his family then moved to Spirit Lake where he enjoyed selling real estate with Blaine Hoien Realty until the early 80’s.
Ray was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Abu Bekr Shriners of Sioux City, IA. He also served on the United Methodist Church Board while living in Kingsley. While in Spirit Lake, he proudly served on the Dickinson County Hospital Board.
Ray was retired nearly 40 years and had many interests. He was an avid student of history and loved woodworking, rehabbing homes, tinkering with classic cars and antiquing. He and his wife, Kay enjoyed socializing, traveling and spending winters in Scottsdale, AZ.
Ray is survived by his wife Kay of Spirit Lake and daughter Mary of Scottsdale, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Dean.