Willard Hess

ESS, Mr. Willard (Bill) R. 1/14/1928 - 2/26/2015 Portage, MI Died Thursday evening at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, AR. Bill was born January 14, 1928 in Galien, Michigan. He was raised in Buchanan and was a long time Kalamazoo area resident. Bill served his country as a Marine, graduated from Kalamazoo College, and retired after 36 years as a chemist with The Upjohn Company. Upon his retirement, he and his wife of 61 years, Donna, began traveling to Plant City, FL for the winter. Bill was a high school football star and enjoyed many other sports including pool, shuffleboard, and table tennis where he was a nationally ranked player earning a silver medal in the Senior Olympics. Bill a loving, kind-hearted father, grandfather and husband was a renowned caramel corn and meatloaf maker and a Bid Euchre champion. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Irene Hess; his brothers Jack Hess and Richard Hess and is survived by his wife Donna, children: Mark Hess of Atlanta, GA, Mary Hess-Quinones (Ed) of Kalamazoo, Nancy Roehl (Chris) of Bentonville, AR,; twelve grandchildren, Jessica Clarey (Sean), Evan and Mandy Quinones, Zachary, Olivia, Sophia, Amelia and Sam Roehl, Brenner, Barrett, Benton, and Brooks Hess; in-laws, Mary Louise Hess, Charles and Naomi Barton and DeWane and Joyce Brenner; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to: Grace Methodist Church in Plant City, Milwood United Methodist Church or Kids Connection Inc., in Vicksburg. Attn: Bill Hess Memorial. Please visit Bill's personalized webpage for online guestbook, more information on memorials or to leave a condolence at www.langelands.com. 269-343-1508.