Born: April 11, 1922

Died: July 24, 2013

Charles E. Hess, 91, of Edwardsburg, Mich., and formerly of Buchanan, Mich., died at 12:25 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at West Woods of Niles following an extended illness.

He was born on April 11, 1922 at Buchanan, Mich., to Charles Herman and Cora Belle (Enos) Hess. He was graduated from Buchanan High School, and lived in Buchanan until moving to Edwardsburg in 1998. He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a Corporal in the United States Army; and was employed at Clark Equipment for thirty years. In retirement, he owned and operated Hess TV Repair.

Charlie was a member of the First Methodist Church in Buchanan. He was a member of the American Legion Post #51 in Buchanan, and had been active in the Loyal Order of Moose in both Buchanan and Elkhart, Ind., where he enjoyed ballroom dancing with his wife. He was also a member of the United Auto Workers Union Local #468. He enjoyed caring for his yard, especially using his John Deere.

He was previously married to Gladys “Pauline” Hurley.

On Aug. 27, 1988 at the First United Methodist Church in Buchanan he married the former Donna Mary (Graham) Watson with whom he would have celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of their wedding next month.

Surviving family includes his wife, Donna Hess; and his children, Ray (and Dianna) Hess of South Bend, Ind., and Chuck Hess and Jean (and Dan) Gillis, both of Niles; step-children, Stan (and Mary Ellen) Watson of Elkhart, Steve (and Gail Savick) Watson of Shipshewana, Ind., Linda Kline of Constantine, Mich., and Shane Watson of Austin, Texas; 19 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by a sister, Virginia Harroff and brother, Ralph Hess.

The funeral service for Charles Hess will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Rob McPherson of First United Methodist Church officiating and will conclude with Full Military Honors on the lawn of the funeral home by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51. Committal services will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the Constantine Township (Michigan) Cemetery by Rev. McPherson.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Charlie Hess may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Buchanan.

www.halbritterfunerals.com