The Reverend (COL) Robert Smith Hess, D.D., 84, of Walpole, NH, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday evening, May 6, 2012. After a brief illness, he died peacefully at his beloved home, "Walvern Manse," surrounded by his family.
   Rev. Hess was born on September 17, 1927, in Mount Union, PA, the son of the late Samuel Warren Hess and Myra Naomi (Smith) Hess of Allenport, PA.  He married Verna Viola Getz of Hares Valley, PA on January 27, 1949 in Mount Union, PA. His wife preceded him in death on August 20, 2010, having been married for more than 61 years.
   Rev. Hess was ordained for the ministry of the gospel at Nanuet, NY on April 8, 1960. He earned a Bachelor of Theology from Nyack Missionary College, a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a Masters in Sociology from Long Island University, and a Doctorate of Divinity. He pastored Medway Village Church in Medway, MA from 1960 to 1965.  Rev. Hess then went to active duty in the U.S. Army, serving as an Army Chaplain from November 15, 1965 until January 1, 1979. He then pastored First Congregational Church of Woburn until his retirement in 1992.  He continued in Army Reserves serving as the Senior Staff Chaplain of the Army General Hospital in Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, and then served as interim pastor at two churches in New Hampshire and pulpit supply throughout the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Reverend Hess was named Pastor Emeritus of First Congregational Church of Woburn.
   In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, Kenny, two sisters, Margaret and Grace, and by a granddaughter, Angela.  Reverend Hess is survived by his brother, Charles Hess of Bloomsburg, PA, and his sister Arlene Rinker of Mount Union, PA, and by the following children: Robert Craig Hess of Walpole, NH; Vicki Lynn (Hess) Butters and husband James of Woburn, MA; Marlene Grace (Hess) Wyatt and husband Frank of Ellensburg, WA; Kiel Arthur Hess and wife Paula of Dover, DE; and Quinton Matthew Hess of Walpole, NH.  He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Adam, Shana, Jennifer, Laura, Sarah, Ian, Steven, Frances, Uriah, and Benjamin; six great-grandchildren, Sarah, Ava, Garrett, Daemon, Vera Lee, and Brianna.
   A Funeral Service will be held at the First Congregational Church, 322 Main St., Woburn on Friday, May 11 at 10:00 am, with an hour of visitation at the church prior to the Service from 9:00 to 10:00 am.  Burial will be at the Walpole Village Cemetery, Walpole, New Hampshire on Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to World Vision c/o Memorial Fund of Robert Hess, Source Code 105429524 by calling 1-888-511-6519 or PO Box 9716, Federal Way,WA, 98063; or to the Billy Graham Evangelical Association, 1 Billy Graham Pkwy,Charlotte, NC, 28201.