George Robert Hess

George Robert "Bob" Hess, 87, of Tulsa, Oklahoma passed into Heaven peacefully on Friday, April 4, 2014 at The Villages of Southern Hills after a long battle with Alzheimer's. He was born in Iola, Kansas on September 9, 1926 to George William and Doris Ann Wolfe Hess. Bob was raised on a farm he loved in Stark, Kansas where he hunted, fished and ran with his dog. He previously lived in Topeka, but lived most of his life in Kansas City, Missouri where he was President of various banks for 30 years.

Bob was an accomplished violinist who played first chair in the Wichita Youth Symphony. He served in World War II in the South Pacific aboard the U.S.S. Case destroyer, and was proud to be a Naval veteran of WWII. After the war, he earned a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Economics from Washburn University and a Master's Degree in Banking from University of Wisconsin. Throughout his life, Bob was an avid golfer scoring three holes in one.
His greatest contribution was to the churches he attended where he held leadership positions and taught Sunday School for 40 years. Bob told his daughter that the most important thing he did in his life was when he asked the Holy Spirit into his heart.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Thelma Hartzell Hess, two daughters Debra Stephens and Cynthia Kaneta, a son-in-law Don Stephens, and three granddaughters, Kathryn Michelle, Laura Ashleigh, and Christy Elizabeth Kaneta, two sisters, Dolores Kirk and Lavon Hess, along with two brothers, Jim Hess and Don Hess and multiple nieces and nephews.

A special thanks to Tranquility Hospice and The Villages of Southern Hills for their loving care and support throughout the last year.

Services for Bob will be at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel in Topeka, Kansas on Tuesday, April 8, at 11:00 a.m. where the family will receive friends one hour prior to service time. He will be laid to rest at Penwell Gabel cemetery in Topeka. Memorial donations should be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, 4125 SW Gage Center Dr., Ste. LL-15, Topeka, KS 66604.