? - William Reese Hess, age 96, of Richlands, Virginia, passed away Saturday, December 9, 2023 at his home after a battle with a brief illness.

Bill was born on July 6, 1927 to the late James Arthur and Nora Horton Hess in Richlands, Virginia.

Bill attended Richlands High School before beginning his career as a coal miner in 1945 after turning 18. However, Bill's career was interrupted after a short four months when he was drafted on November 8, 1945 to serve in the United States Fifth Army Air Force as a Corporal during the Occupation of Japan at the conclusion of World War II. Bill completed training at Fort Meade, Maryland, Fort McClellan, Alabama and Camp Stoneman, California before departing for Japan. Bill arrived in Yokohama, Japan on March 30, 1946 and remained in Japan for nine and a half months before returning to Richlands in February 1947. Upon his return to the United States, Bill resumed his career as a coal miner where he ultimately worked 42 years for the Jewell Ridge Coal Corporation, Pittston Coal Company and at Sea B Mining #2 in addition to Jewell Valley #2 and #11 mines until his retirement in 1987. Bill became a member of the United Mine Workers of America in 1945 and was a 78-year member of UMWA Local # 1760 in Seaboard, Virginia. Bill became a member of the Richlands Masonic Lodge #318 A.F. & A.M. in 1978 where he eventually served as a tiler. Bill was also a 32nd Degree Master Mason and member of the Scottish Rite and the Kazim Temple. Bill was a member of the Tazewell-Russell Shrine Club and was named Shriner of the Year in 2000. Bill was a devout Christian and was a member of the West Fork Presbyterian Chapel and Richlands Presbyterian Church for more than 40 years where he served as an elder, Sunday School superintendent, Sunday School teacher and the chairperson of various committees. At the time of his death, Bill had been a member of the First Christian Church for 23 years where he was an elder and member of the Christian Men's Fellowship.

Bill loved watching Virginia Tech football and attended many games at Lane Stadium with both of his sons and grandson. He was proud that his "three boys" attended Virginia Tech and was a lifelong Hokies fan. Bill fell in love with baseball at a young age and relished his memories from playing the game with his brothers and friends in West Fork as a child. He enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves on TBS throughout the 1990s and 2000s with his wife and grandson. Bill loved watching college football on Saturdays and the NFL on Sunday. Bill also enjoyed camping with his family in the summers, most notably at Hungry Mothers State Park. Bill was an "old-time" country music fan and seen many concerts with his wife and friends over the years. However, what Bill most enjoyed was working in his garden. Bill planted a variety of vegetables every summer and sincerely enjoyed giving them to his friends, neighbors, and church family.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Clara Vance Hess; one son, William Reese Hess, Jr.; five brothers, James Arthur Hess, Jr., Howard R. Hess, George P. Hess, John Marvin Hess, and Harry L. Hess; three sisters, Nanola "Nance" Hess, Betty Stevens, and Jane Hurt; maternal grandparents, John S. and Nannie Brown Horton; and paternal grandparents, John H. and Martha Stump Hess.

Survivors that will continue his legacy and cherish his memory are:

Son: John K. Hess of Richlands, Virginia. Grandson: J. Brady Hess of Richmond, Virginia; and girlfriend Hayley Allison of Richlands, Virginia. Sister: Helen Hess of Richlands, Virginia. Daughter-in-law: Lynnette Hess of Newport News, Virginia

Sister-in-law: Peggy Hess of Richlands, Virginia. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends also survive.

The family would like to thank Dr. Kenneth McVey, Dr. Cortney Farmer and the staff at Clinch Valley Medical Center and the staff at Legacy Hospice for their extended kindness.

Funeral services for William R. Hess will be conducted Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Richlands, Virginia with the Rev. Melissa Snyder officiating. Entombment will follow at the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum in Claypool Hill, Virginia. Pallbearers will be: Brady Hess, Craig Hunsaker, Eddie Cruey, Frank Forrest, Jim Hurt, II, Josh Doud, Logan Forrest, Richard Hicks, and Steve Cole. Honorary Pallbearers will be Kem Owens, Perry Carter and the men of the First Christian Church, Austin Carter, Brett Compton, Gabe Hunsaker, Jerry Compton, Josh Hess, and Rodney Stout. Friends may call from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia with Masonic Rites being conducted at 7 p.m. by Richlands Masonic Lodge #318 AF & AM. The UMWA Memorial Chaplain Corps will conduct a UMWA tribute and the VFW Post # 9640 will conduct graveside military rites. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, P.O. Box 1307, Richlands, Virginia 24641 or to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia, is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com