Martin R. "Bill" Hess, age 83 years of Elizabethtown, formerly of Delta, died on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 8:45 PM at The Masonic Village at Elizabethtown. He was the husband of Mary Charlotte (Boyd) Hess for forty-one years when she died on May 3, 1992. He also was the husband of Elizabeth M. Van Hart-Hess-for six years when she died on May 4, 2001.

Mr. Hess was born on July 28, 1924; he was one of three sons born on the family farm on Thompson Road in Delta to the late H. Lyle and Mary Elizabeth (Thompson) Hess. During his childhood, he worked on the family farm, attended the Fairview Elementary School and graduated from the former Lower Chanceford High School in 1942

In 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a Radarman Second Class aboard Amphibious LST 1141 in the Pacific Theatre of Operations, Marianas, Ulithi, Okinawa, Tokyo and Yokohama. He served on active duty until 1946 and in the reserve until 1950.

After his honorable discharge, he attended York College where among his studies, he took flying lessons. In 1947, he received his pilot license and with his cousin, the late Mervin Thompson, rebuilt a storm damaged aircraft that he flew for several years.

In 1947-48, Bill began his career working on the farm before working for thirty-one years as a rural mail carrier in the Delta area. After retiring from the postal service, he worked for thirteen years as a guard for the Philadelphia Electric Company.

Bill transferred his membership to Slateville Presbyterian Church in Delta where he was a long time member serving as an Elder, on the Board of Trustees, a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher. He was a sixty year member of the Friendship Lodge #663 F&AM of Fawn Grove, Pennsylvania and a thirty-eight year member of the Mason-Dixon Lions Club where he served as president, secretary, on the board of directors and on various committees.

He was a beekeeper, a water dowser and an avid gardener always growing enough vegetables for the entire neighborhood. In 2003, he moved to The Masonic Village in Elizabethtown.

He is survived by:

A daughter, Marilyn H. Hushon and her husband, Richard of Delta, Pennsylvania along with their four children: Ryan Hushon, Mary Allyson Hushon, Hope Hushon and Claire Hushon

A brother, Robert D. Hess and his wife Doris, also of Delta.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Gerald R. Hess on March 19, 1999.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 6, 2008 from 3 to 6 PM at Harkins Funeral Home, 600 Main Street, Delta, Pennsylvania with a Masonic Service presented by the Friendship Lodge at 5:30PM.

Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11 AM at Slateville Presbyterian Church, 308 Slateville Road, Delta, Pennsylvania with interment in the adjoining church cemetery.

His pastor, Reverend Carletta R. Curley will officiate.

Graveside military honors will be presented by the York County Veterans Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Slateville Church Memorial Fund, PO Box 657, Delta, PA 17314 or to the Mason-Dixon Lions Club, c/o Sylvia Sanzone, PO Box 158, Delta, PA 17314.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Hushon, Robert Scarborough, David Boyd, Lowell Hess, Greg Hess and David Rutherford.

Honorary pallbearers will be Robert D. Hess, D. Russell Morris, P. Cooper Boyd and Aden Crouse.