Alfred P. Hess Jr., 82 of Clearfield entered into God’s Eternal Care, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013 at Christ the King Manor, DuBois. He was the husband of 58 years to Ruth Constance (Witherow) Hess, Clearfield.
Born Oct. 3, 1931 in the Scale House of Clearfield, he was the son of the late Alfred P. and Elizabeth (Charlton) Hess.
Mr. Hess was a 1949 graduate of Clearfield High School and later a graduate of Penn State. He was employed by the state Department of Transportation as a highway designer for 35 years until his retirement in 1993.
Mr. Hess was a member of the St. Francis Roman Catholic Church, Clearfield. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1954.
Mr. Hess’ other memberships include American Society of Highway Engineering and the Clearfield American Legion. He was a devoted family man. He loved the birds and the river ducks, which came to his yard daily and loved sitting with his wife and children on the beach at Hatteras Village, NC and he loved his cats, Angel and Scruffy the most.
In addition to his wife, he’s survived by four sons and a daughter, Michael John Hess, Susan Kay Hess Gilliland and her husband, Joseph K. “Joe,” Joseph Lee Hess, Fred Peter Hess and Alfred Peter Hess III and his wife, Brandy L., all of Clearfield.
He’s also survived by five grandchildren, Alyssa Ashley Simcox and her fiancé, Randy Lee Socoski Jr., Tasha Nicole Hess; Matthew Michael Hess, Keagan James Hess and Zachary Taylor Hess; one great-granddaughter, Ciara Lynn Socoski; five sisters and four brothers, Marge Lanich and her husband, James of Erie; Virginia Anderson and her husband, Harold of Northeast; Allen Hess and his wife, Audrey of Keysville, GA; William Hess and his wife, Cathy of York Haven, Elaine Lippert of Georgetown, SC, Ronald Hess and his wife, Molly of Rochester NY; Leslie Blaine Hess and his wife, Shelly of Lancaster, SC; Karen Swain and her husband, Richard of Greer, SC; and more than 100 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a step-mother, Ida Margaret Good Hess; and a sister, Delorus (Curtis) McClure.
A memorial mass will be held to celebrate the life of Alfred P. Hess Jr. at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Calvary Cemetery Chapel, Clearfield, with Msgr. H. Desmond McGee as celebrant. A time to share memories and have an opportunity to view will be held from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Bennett & Houser Funeral Home, 312 E. Locust St., Clearfield, PA 16830.
Following the service, military honors will be accorded by the Clearfield Honor Guard. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Clearfield.
For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis School, C/O St. Francis Educational Endowment Fund, 212 S. Front St., Clearfield, PA 16830.
Online tributes may be made at www.bennettandhouser.com or to www.mem.com.