of North Little Rock, AR
December 16, 2018
Richard Arnold Hess, 77, of Little Rock went to be with the lord as he passed away peacefully at his home on the morning of Sunday December 16th, 2018. Richard was born to William Frederick Hess and Evelyn Miller Hess in Baltimore, Maryland on August 26, 1941. He lost both of his parents at a young age and subsequently entered the foster care system. He would spend the rest of his childhood in foster care, which had a significant impact on him.
In 1960, he graduated from the Baltimore City College, a college preparatory institution founded in 1839, and the third oldest public high school in the United States. After high school graduation, Rick attended Towson State College near Baltimore, MD (now Towson University) for 3 ½ years to study history. He later furthered his education at the Preston Road School of Preaching in Dallas, Texas (affiliated with the Preston Road Church of Christ).
After his time at Towson State College, Rick entered the United States Navy, where he gave approx. 5 1/2 years (total) of honorable military service to his country, attaining the rank of Yeoman 3rd Class. From March, 1963 to March, 1970, he served in the U.S. Naval Reserves. He served full time active duty in the U.S. Navy from October 1966 to August 1968.
On July 5, 1969, Rick married Juanita Jean Floyd at the Alexandria Church of Christ, in Virginia. Rick attended Church of Christ congregations throughout his life. During his time while attending school at Preston Road in the Dallas area, Richard had the opportunity to preach at Church of Christ congregations in Styx, Ovilla, and Klondike, Texas; as well as the Kimball Square Church of Christ in Dallas. Richard would later serve as a full time preacher at various Church of Christ congregations in Missouri, Texas and Louisiana for many years. This included Church of Christ congregations in Lancaster, TX; Trinity, TX; Sullivan, MO; and Washington, MO. In addition, he preached at various times at his home congregation while in Louisiana, the DeGaulle Drive Church of Christ in New Orleans, as well as the Yscloskey, LA Church of Christ. Over the course of his life, Rick also worked in various other ventures. He worked in the shipping and oil industry as a tanker man on the Mississippi River in Missouri and Louisiana. He worked as a manager in the restaurant industry in Virginia and Texas. He launched his own business in landscaping, which he owned and operated for 23 years in Louisiana. Later in life, he obtained his insurance certification and worked in the insurance field for 10 years before retiring.
Rick is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jean Hess of Little Rock, AR; his sons, Bruce Hess and his wife Tammy (Palmer, AK); Will Hess (West Hollywood, CA); James Hess (Little Rock, AR); his daughter, Alicia Hess (Anniston, AL); He is survived by 3 grandsons and 1 grand-daughter: Nathan Hess (Palmer, AK); Dylan Dunaway (Anniston, AL); Charlie Hess (Little Rock, AR); and Dacey Dunaway (Anniston, AL). He is survived by his brother, Charles Hess and his wife Marlene (Bluffton, South Carolina), and several nephews and nieces.
Rick is preceded in death by his father William Frederick Hess; his mother Evelyn Miller; his brothers William, Joseph, and Edwin Hess; and his sisters Evelyn Smith and Mary Jane Hylton.
Rick was a member of the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in Little Rock, where he has attended for several years with his wife Jean and her sister Leola; his son James, and his grandson Charlie.
Rick's special interests in life included the period of history surrounding the Civil War and World War 2. He most enjoyed watching Western & historical films, followed by the New Orleans Saints. He especially enjoyed Western films with his favorite actor, John Wayne. His special interests later in life included helping River City Ministries and the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ with their endeavors to help serve the homeless.
Rick was a good husband and father, and will be missed by his family and the many people who knew him.
Funeral services will be held on Friday Jan 11th, 2019 at 11:45 AM at the Levy Church of Christ in NLR, followed a burial service with military honors at the nearby Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Richard's memory to a local faith based non-profit with a mission that Rick cared deeply for:
River City Ministry
1021 E Washington Ave.
P.O. Box 2179
North Little Rock, AR 72115
(501) 376-6694
https://www.rivercityministry.org/donate/