Garnet H. Hess, 84, was born in Detroit, Michigan, on June 3, 1924, and went to be with the Lord on Saturday, October 11, 2008.
He was the son of the late Margaret and Henry Hess. He was a resident of both Seminole, FL and Robbinsville, NC. Garnet earned a B.S. in Special Education from Wayne State University, and a Masters Degree in Audiology/Speech Pathology from the University of Maryland. He worked as an audiologist for the Bay Pines Veterans Administration in St. Petersburg, Florida, prior to his retirement in 1985. During World War II, Garnet served as a Private in the United States Army, where he received a Purple Heart and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for courage under enemy fire. He also served during the Korean War and the Berlin Crisis. Competing as a master rifle shooter, Garnet accumulated numerous awards for the Third Army Rifle Team. Completing 29 years of military and government service, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Garnet served his community both as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader. His interests included building, wood crafting, music, kayaking, and writing. He was a member of Starkey Road Baptist Church in Seminole, Florida, where he sang in the choir. As an associate member of the Robbinsville United Methodist Church in North Carolina, he also participated in choir.
Garnet is survived by his wife of 57 years, June D. Hess; his sister, Doris Dearth of Tacoma, Washington; two sons, Dr. Dan Hess of Englewood, Florida, and David Hess of Palmetto, Florida; one daughter, Carol Glazier of Blairsville, Georgia; and eight grandchildren: Jennifer Hess, Elise Bouchard, Stephanie Hess; Christina Hess, Jessica Hess, Nicholas Hess; Eric Glazier and Chad Glazier.
A memorial service will be held at Starkey Road Baptist Church, 8800 Starkey Road, Seminole, Florida, on October 18, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. with Reverends Jerry Lancaster and Gary Moosey officiating. Interment will be at Bay Pines National Cemetery at a later date.
For their North Carolina friends, Garnet’s wife, June, will hold a celebration of her husband’s life when she returns from Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to The Boy Scouts of America, Starkey Road Baptist Church, or Robbinsville United Methodist Church.
Dear June:
Our prayers are with you and your family. We will always remember Garnet with his gentle ways and sweet smile.
Sincerely,
Lucille and Janice
Dear June and family, we are distressed to learn of the passing of Garn. He was a great man we always enjoyed – full of entertainment and humerous tales. It’s been sometime since we had the pleasure of your company – probably the last ime we were with you was a couple of years ago at the Hunter’s river home. We were looking forward to seeing you two up there again this year. Garn will be sorely missed,and we hope to see you there! Harold and Renate
Dear June,
Our sympathy goes out to you and your family.
Gar was a special person and we’re glad he came into our lives. The “Killroy” he placed over our door on the porch is still in the same place. We will never remove it. Our entire family enjoyed playing his many puzzle games.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Our love, Bobbie and Don Mosher
Dear June and Family,
We were so sorry to hear of Gar’s passing. He was quite a character, a man of many talents and will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
With Sincere Regards,
Jack, Eleanor, Helen Marie, Laura and Johnny
Dear June,
I’m so shocked and sorry to hear about Garnet’s passing. He was always so active and healthy that it’s hard to believe that he’s no longer with us. Garnet was such a kind, warm person — he always made me feel so welcome when I returned from
Dear June and family,
We are saddened to hearsee of Gar’s untimely death. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to you. We know he’s singing with Jesus right now. You will continue to be in our prayers as you recover from this shock. We will always remember out time together in our Sunday School Class and adult choir at Fifth Ave Baptist.
With Christian Love, Everett and Louise Stevens
June, You are in our prayers. Sorry we can’t be in the service but we are still in TN. God Bless
Mrs. Hess, Carol and family – it has been a few years since we have seen each other, but we are so saddened by the passing of Mr. Hess. We have so many fond memories of skiing at the house in Treasure Island, and singing around the piano with Mr. Hess, and the times in Blairsville and North Carolina when we were all there together. I remember all of the wood carving he did and the little tricks he would make. He was so clever. We are thankful for the times we had together. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. – Amy Seibert Williams, Taylor and Haley Tingley
Dear June: Since I won’t be able to attend the service, I just wanted you to know how sorrry I am about Garnet’s passing. I always appreciated his gentle smile and uplifting words, and the devotion he showed to you and his Lord. You are in my prayers at this time.
Love, Nancye
My wish for you is to have the peace that only the LORD can give and knowing full well that your husband and father is with the LORD this very minute. Absent from the body, present with the LORD.
May our Lord comfort your heart as you rest in the knowledge that your husband is with the Lord.
June,
I was so sorry to learn of Garnet’s passing. We have missed both of you at our 3ARRT Reunions. It was always a treat to see what puzzle he would bring for us to try. The 3ARRT group will miss Garnet. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you during this difficult time.
We share your grief, and hvae many fond memories fo fun times at reunioms I am fortunate to own two of Garnetts hand carved shoes which I will cherish!!!!!!
Lots of memories during rifle competitions that will keep a smile on my face…a MIGHTY FINE gentleman….let family memories keep smiles to your faces…he will be missed
Dear Mrs. Hess, Carol and family,
Mr. Hess was so fun when we saw him. He loved to show us his new puzzles at the shows when we would visit mom and dad in NC. May your memories give you peace. Our prayers are with you. With deepest sympathy, Bob, Julie and Kathy Mosher Lemen
Dear Mrs. Hess, Our deepest sympathy to you and your family. Garnet and I served in 829th. Station Hospital at Ft. Polk, La. and our reserve unit in St. Petersburg, Fl. for many years. Carolyn and I are good friends with Don and Bobbie Mosher and while visiting them in NC a few years ago I was able to talk with Garnet on the phone and acquainted ourselves again from those Army days. I have great memories of those years serving our Country with Garnet and all the soldiers in our unit. Our prayers are with you and your family. Sincerely, Phillip and Carolyn Burns