Robert M. Hess

Robert M. Hess, 79, husband of Virginia (Ford) Hess of Cape Coral, Fla., formerly of Brookfield, died May 28 in Masonic Care Facility, Wallingford.  He was born in Yakima, Wash., May 13, 1921, son of the late Manley and Elsie (Linthicum) Hess.

He was the father of Carol Benson of Sandy Hook.

He was a graduate of Central Connecticut State University, with a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut. A teacher by profession, he taught industrial arts at Newtown High School from 1956 to 1969, and later taught in Waterbury. He and his wife moved to Cape Coral, Fla., from Brookfield in 1980.

A veteran of World War II, he served as a corporal in the US Army, serving as an airplane mechanic. He was a participant in the Normandy Invasion, Central Europe, and Rhineland campaigns, and was awarded a Distinguished Unit Badge.

Long active in Masonic organizations, he was a member of Union Lodge #40 in Danbury, Pyramid Temple Shriners in Milford, and a grand patron of the Order of the Eastern Star.

He is survived, besides his wife and daughter, by one sister, Marjorie McDaniel of Tacoma, Wash., and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by a grandson, Jon Benson.

A Memorial Service and Masonic Service will be held at the Newtown Congregational Church on Sat, June 3, at 1 pm.

There are no calling hours.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Newtown Congregational Church Educational Building Fund, 41A Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470.

Arrangements were by Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown.

The Newtown Bee         June 2, 2000