Billy Raymond Hess, age 89, of the Hurricane Creek Road section of Vansant, Virginia, passed away Thursday (October 6, 2022) at his home. Born April 2, 1933 in Buchanan County, Virginia, he was a son of the late Roy Lee and Edna Barton Hess. A lifelong resident of the area, he was a member of Bee Pentecostal Church. Bill had proudly served his country in the United States Army. He had formerly been employed as a carpenter and following his retirement he developed a talent for woodworking and building furniture. He enjoyed playing his guitar and singing bluegrass Gospel music.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters, Iowna Hess, Shirley Presley, Juanita Presley, and Louise Lockhart, and five brothers, Bernis Hess, Roger Hess, Larry Hess, Kenny Hess, and Benny Hess.
Survivors include his loving wife of sixty-three years, Betsy Hess of the home; five children, Annette Stevens, Tonya and Carmel Rasnake, Donna Bennett, Melissa and Al Henderson, and Billy and Jackie Hess; one sister, Patsy Musick; twelve grandchildren, Nick, Adrienne, Tyler, Miranda, Britteney, Amanda, Amber, Emily, Luke, Katlyn, Alanza, and Milena; nine great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 PM Sunday, October 9, 2022 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, Virginia with Rev. Jackie Keen officiating. Interment will follow in the Hess Family Cemetery near the home.
Military honors will be conducted by Child's Gentry VFW Post 7360 and American Legion Post 164.
Pallbearers will be Nick Stevens, Tyler Rasnake, Luke Henderson, Tristan Stevens, Isaac Looney, and Donovan Stevens.
Honorary pallbearers will be all military veterans and active military.
The family will receive friends at the Honaker Funeral Home on Saturday, October 8, 2022 from 5 – 7 PM.