Dale E. Hess

The York Daily Record, 10/28/2008

LEWISBURG Dale E. Hess, 79, died Sunday, October 26, 2008, at RiverWoods, Lewisburg, where he resided the past 2 ½ months. He had been in ill health the past 6 ½ years.

Born November 16, 1928, in York, he was a son of the late Lester R. and Helen (Ness) Hess. He and his wife, Gretchen M. Wagoner, were married October 22, 1994.

A graduate of William Penn High School in York, he received a degree in Business Administration from Grove City College, Grove City, and earned a Masters Degree in Education from Temple University, Philadelphia.

Dale was a U. S. Army veteran of the Korean War, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant while stationed in Germany. He was later commissioned to the rank of Colonel while serving in the U. S. Air Force Reserve, and received the U. S. Air Force Meritorious Service Award.

While Dale was attending college, he signed a baseball contract with the Cincinnati Reds prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army. Following his discharge from active duty, he continued playing baseball with the F.O.P. teams and with the American Legion league. He was also an avid tennis player up until the time of his illness.

He formerly held managerial positions with McGrawEdison Corporation in York and RCA Electronic Components in Lancaster. Dale was a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Parish in Lewisburg.

Surviving in addition to his wife are a son, Matthew D. Hess of Upper Marlboro, Md.; two daughters, Anne E. Hess of Hershey and Elizabeth C. Copenheaver of York; and two grandchildren, Hannah Copenheaver and Maxwell Copenheaver, both of York.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, in Otterbein United Methodist Church Cemetery, 50 School Street, York, officiated by the Rev. Joseph Tuscan, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church, York. Full military honors will be presented by the York County Veterans Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends following the service at the Otterbein United Methodist Church Social Hall. The family suggests contributions in Dale's memory be made to SUN Home Health Services Inc./SUN Home Hospice, 61 Duke Street, P. O. Box 232, Northumberland, PA 17857.

The family is being assisted by Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, S. 2nd & St. Louis Streets, Lewisburg.