Ralph W. Hess

YORK – Ralph W. Hess, 83, went to his eternal home on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at Country Meadows of York – West. Married on Christmas Day in Sykesville, MD; he was the husband of Ruth M. (Sprenkle) Hess. The couple celebrated 59 years together.

Born December 25, 1939 in Fawn Grove, the son of the late Avon W. and Marion (Jamison) Hess; he was a 1957 graduate of Kennard Dale High School. Following graduation, he served in the US Army active duty and Reserves for six years while attending Millersville University, where he earned a Political Science degree. A gifted teacher, he taught political science and economics at West York High School where he met his wife Ruth. He also coached Jr. High football, advised Mail Call Vietnam, and worked closely with the students in various capacities to bring out the best in each one of them. He won fellowships to Oklahoma State University, San Diego State University, and the University of Washington. At Oklahoma he received the top student award in macro and micro economics.

In 1969 he was a Guidance Counselor at Spring Grove Area High School. In 1970, with a budget of $800 and 60 volunteer students led by a 16-year-old campaign manager, he was elected to the PA State Senate for the 28th District, representing portions of York and Lancaster counties. Senator Hess served five terms until his retirement in 1990. The achievements that gave him the most satisfaction during his legislative career were nixing a proposed landfill in southwestern York Co. and preventing a chemical dump in North Codorus Twp., taking on the role of lead defendant in the Class Action Suit that Dauphin Deposit brought against 4,800 customers, and obtaining a variance from the Game Commission to allow a constituent to rescue and keep an injured baby fawn. In the Senate he recorded a roll call vote of 99.8% and helped legislate laws to exempt medical equipment from state sales tax, to grant privileged communication between counselors and students, to change the school subsidy formula, and to establish honors programs for high school students. After retiring from the PA Senate, he taught at Lebanon Valley College, Millersville University, and York College as an adjunct professor.

Ralph was a loving husband and his greatest pleasures as a father and grandfather were teaching Hess values of hard work, financial discipline, and good manners…as an educator was to lend a listening ear to students whose lives overwhelmed them…and as a legislator was to help constituents solve their problems within the bureaucratic maze of government. He lived his life with compassion, intelligence, devotion, good humor, and always loved a good fight if anyone was being taken advantage of or treated unfairly. He will never be forgotten by the many people whose lives he touched. Ralph was a member of Mt. Zion United Church of Christ in Spring Grove, Spring Grove Sportsman’s Club, and Spring Grove Lions Club.

In addition to his loving wife Ruth, he will be sadly missed by his two sons and their families; David Hess of York and Timothy and wife Teresa Hess of Dallastown; four grandchildren, Nathan and wife Taylor Hess, Andrea Hess, Mary and Anna Hess; a great grandson, Asher Hess; two nieces; a nephew; many friends, and his golfing buddies.

A Celebration of Life Tribute Service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, July 22, 2023 at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Road, York. Visitations will be held from 6-7:30 PM Friday and 10-11:00 AM Saturday at the Funeral Chapel. Private burial will be in Susquehanna Memorial Gardens. Ralph’s tribute service will be webcast from his obituary page at www.HeffnerCare.com

The family wishes to remember and thank all of the people who touched Ralph’s life, in addition to the doctors and nurses at the various facilities in which he was housed, especially the staff at Country Meadows of York – West. Anyone wishing to honor Ralph is encouraged to make a donation to Folds of Honor, Dept. 13, Tulsa, OK 74182 or at www.foldsofhonor.org