CHARLES S. HESS

Charles S. Hess, age 88, of Columbia City, Ind. passed away at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana, Fort Wayne.Born on March 4, 1922 in Whitley County, Ind., he was the son of Pyrl and Daisy (Rouch) Hess.

A lifetime resident of Whitley County, he attended school in Collins.On March 27, 1943 he married Mildred Hazen in Elkhart County, Ind.In addition to being a lifetime farmer, he drove a school bus for Smith-Green School Corporation for 23 years as well as worked as a mechanic for 8 years. He also was employed at Bockelman and Geiger International Harvester in Churubusco as a mechanic for 30 years.His memberships included Blue River Community Church where he served as an elder and deacon, Indiana Farm Bureau and Whitley County Council on Aging.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Mildred Hess of Columbia City; nieces, Louise Wolf of Fort Wayne, Judy (Ed) Demske, Joan (Joe) Miller and Barb Geiger all of Columbia City, and Karen (Jason) Maybe of Warsaw, Ind.; nephews, Jerry (Cheri) Geiger, Jess (Kay) Geiger of Columbia City, and Ronnie (Janet) Farmer and Randy (Brenda) Farmer of Kendallville, Ind.He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Herrold Hess and an infant sister.

Visitation is Friday, January 21, 2011 from 3-5 & 6-8 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City, IN.Funeral service is Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Kent Green of Blue River Community Church officiating. Burial will follow at South Park (Annex) Cemetery, Columbia City.Memorial gifts may be given in memory of Mr. Hess to Blue River Community Church or the donor's choice of charity.Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.