Obituary: Lester “Ted” Clay Hess, 82

HESS

Lester “Ted” Clay Hess, 82, of Wheeling, WV, passed away Thursday, November 17, 2022, at Wheeling Hospital.

Ted was born in Wheeling, WV, on March 3, 1940, son of the late Lester C. and Catherine Mason Hess.

He was born and raised in Wheeling. During his senior year at Triadelphia High School, he was class president, yearbook editor, captain of both the school and All-Conference basketball teams, and honorable mention All-State basketball team. He attended Vanderbilt University 1958-1962 on a Dow Jones scholarship, where he majored in English and was elected to the Vanderbilt Student Senate and played on the Vanderbilt Freshman Basketball Team.

He taught English and coached basketball at Bay City High School in Michigan for one year. Ted graduated from the College of Law, West Virginia University in 1966, where he was named Associate Editor of the West Virginia Law Review.

Ted was hired by United Press International as a vacation relief staff writer in UPI bureaus in Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Birmingham, and Charleston, WV. He covered Martin Luther King, George Wallace, Bull Connor, and other civil rights activities while working in the Birmingham UPI bureau during the summer of 1963. His by-line stories were published in newspapers throughout the country and beyond.

He married Rebecca Sue Eades of Hinton, WV, in 1966, and they recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary. He was a full-time trial attorney with the law firm of Bachmann, Hess, Bachmann and Garden from 1966 until his retirement in May 2019. He served as Municipal Judge of the City of Wheeling from 1970 until 1987. He was president of the Ohio County WV Bar Association and received its Atticus Finch Award in 2001. He was a Charter Member and on the Board of Governors of Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia. He was a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel. Ted was elected as a member of American College of Trial Lawyers, and he served as its West Virginia Chair from 1997-1999. He argued in the Supreme Court of Appeals of WV and the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He handled 100 personal injury jury trials to verdict. He was proud that, as between his father and himself, there was a Lester Hess practicing law at 1226 Chapline Street in Wheeling, WV, for over 90 years.

He served 40 years as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio County Public Library, the last 15 years as Board Chairman. He also served on the Board during the construction of the present library. He was founder and chairman of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Wheeling. He was active in the Wheeling Elks Lodge, and he served as State Elks President, before being elected as the National Elks president for 1991-1992. Along with his wife, Becky, he traveled to every state in the union for a full year. He met one-on-one with President George H.W. Bush in the Oval Office of the White House. He later served a term as chairman of all the Past National Elks Presidents.

After retiring from the practice of law, Ted enjoyed the opportunity to be at home and having time to read books. He particularly enjoyed non-fiction books. He volunteered regularly at the Wheeling Area Soup Kitchen. Ted enjoyed exercising and listening to Bob Dylan.

Having taken a sabbatical from work to spend time in all 50 states for one year, he concluded he did not want to retire any place other than Wheeling, which is not called “The Friendly City” by happenstance. He was blessed to have Oglebay Park, Oglebay Institute, excellent public and private schools, access to first-class health care, and the best public library in the state. Ted attended 3C Community Church. The values in life that he held highest were the values he always found in the City of Wheeling, which he called home for over 80 years.

Friends will be received at Kepner Funeral Home, 900 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003 (304-232-2732) on Monday, November 21, 2022, from 2-4 p.m. with an Elks Service at 3 p.m. and again on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. with Dr. Mitchel Johnston officiating.

Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Wheeling, WV.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ted’s honor to Ohio County Public Library, 52 – 16th Street, Wheeling, WV 26003, or the charity of donor’s choice.

Information submitted by Kepner Funeral Home of Wheeling, WV.