MILFORD — William N. “Bill” Bess, 81, Milford, passed away at 6:47 a.m. Jan. 30, 2017, at Elkhart General Hospital. He was born Jan. 9, 1936, in Franklin, Ohio, to Raymond G. and Anna Imogene Colvin Bess. He attended Milford High School and was a lifetime Milford area resident. He was first married to Virginia L. “Ginny” Coy, and then on April 10, 1987, in Milford, he married Marilyn L. DeCamp Kasten, who preceded him on Sept. 16, 2009. He retired from Syracuse Rubber Co. after 49 years and worked part time for NAPA, Milford, after his retirement. He was a member of Wawasee Heights Baptist Church, Syracuse, and Masonic Lodge Post 418, Milford. He is survived by two daughters, Angela Ann Ferrell, Goshen, and Mary Kay Bess, Warsaw; a son, William John “Bill” (spouse Jodi) Bess, Wolcottville; three grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Carolyn (spouse Larry) Weaver, Syracuse, and Deborah (spouse Larry) Lea, Milford; three brothers: Donald (spouse Nancy) Bess, Indianapolis; Daniel Bess, Scottsburg; and Warren Bess, Syracuse; and his companion, Mary Haight, Syracuse. He was preceded by his parents; wife; and two brothers, David and Russell Bess. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, with Masonic services at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Wawasee Heights Baptist Church, 504 Syracuse-Webster Road, Syracuse, with Pastor Pat Park officiating. Burial will be in New Paris Cemetery. ***** Memorials to Wawasee Heights Baptist Church, 504 Syracuse-Webster Road, Syracuse, IN 46567; or National Kidney Foundation, 30 E. 33rd St., New York, NY 10016. To send condolences to the family in Bill Bess’ memory, visit www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com.
