Keith Hess

Keith L. Hess, 83, Shippensburg, died Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at Providence Place in Chambersburg.

Born Sunday, September 6, 1931 in Waynesboro, Franklin County, he was a son of the late Ernest O. and Minnie V. Keller Hess.

Keith was a 1949 graduate of Waynesboro High School and a graduate of Hagerstown Business College with an Associate B.A. He also graduated from Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, WV with a B.A in Health and Physical Education and later received his Masters Degree in Education from Penn State University.

He retired from Shippensburg University as an Assistant Professor of Health & Physical Education. He taught courses in Advanced Life Saving, Lifeguard training, Health/Wellness, Techniques of Officiating in Soccer, Basketball and Volleyball, and activity courses in Tennis, Volleyball, Golf and Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Swimming. He was Assistant Coach of Men’s Basketball from 1958-1961 and Intramural Director from 1976-1979. He coached the Men’s Basketball Team for ten years (1961-1971) and was Head Coach of Men’s Soccer from 1958-1963.

From 1971-1996 Keith was Pool Manager for the Chambersburg Country Club and from 1956-1971 Pool Manager at Waynesboro Country Club, during the summer months. He also taught at Fannett-Metal High School where he organized the first Boys Basketball Team and coached for three years and also organized the first Track Team for the school. From 1954-1955 Keith was Physical Director of the Waynesboro YMCA. He organized and taught classes of all ages, children to adult, women and men. He organized and served as director of the Tri-State Basketball Tournament for adults, organized Gymnastic Shows for all ages and supervised the Saturday Night Dance Club for Jr. and Sr. High students.

Keith was presently enjoying retirement, visiting with his children and their families, and caring for his wife Winnie.

Keith served the community in many capacities. He was Director of the Teen Canteen from 1959-1970 and served as President of the Park and Recreation for five years. He was a member and Elder of the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church in Shippensburg. He was a Lifeguard Instructor and taught American Red Cross in Water Safety Courses. He served on the Shippensburg Area School Board from 1988-1992.

Keith was an accomplished athlete, participating in soccer, football and basketball at Waynesboro High School, where he was named Second Team All-Conference in both football and basketball. At Hagerstown Junior College he was a member of the Men’s Basketball Team coached by Joe Proksa, and was later inducted into the Hagerstown Community College Hall of Fame. He played on a Semi-Pro Basketball Team in Waynesboro from 1950-1958. While attending Shepherd College he was a member of the Men’s Basketball Team for two years and was ranked 12th in career scoring average of 17.5. In 1953 he was listed in Converse Basketball Year Book (32nd Edition) with a 19.9 average.

Keith was very active with the PIAA, officiating high school soccer for 53 years, basketball for 50 years and volleyball for 37 years. He served many years as assigner for soccer and volleyball for area high schools in South Central PA and MD. He was selected to officiate numerous District and Inter-District playoff contests for all sports at both high school and college levels. His honors include being selected to officiate NAGWS Women’s Championships at P.S.U., Princeton, Edinburg, University of PA, New Rochelle, NY and Pittsburgh University.

In 1970 Keith organized the first South Central Penn National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association, serving as secretary and assigner. He was selected to officiate in the N.A.I.A. National Soccer Tournament in Raleigh, NC in 1975.

Other achievements include organizing the Franklin County Chapter of College Volleyball Officials (1978), later called the South Central Penn Chapter of PAVO, where he served as secretary and assigner for 20 years. In 1996 he was selected to work the Division III Volleyball Mid Atlantic Regional Championships at Gettysburg College and the WV Conference Volleyball Playoff Championship Game in 1998, as well as the Jr. College Tournament at Hagerstown Community College.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Winnie L. Lehman Hess of Chambersburg; one son, Bruce L. (Carla) Hess, of Shippensburg; five daughters; Jayne L. Bowman of Hershey, Julie A. (Dennis) Drachbar, Kyla H. (Warren) Jones, all of Shippensburg, Molly H. (Roger) Coleman, and Jennifer H. (John) Amsley, all of Chambersburg; one brother, Ernest H. Hess, of Downey, California; 17 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Elizabeth H. Jones and a sister, Ann Laween McNew.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Kimberley Wadlington, the Rev. James R. Richwine and the Rev. Dr. Steven R. Fleming officiating. Burial will be in Spring Hill Cemetery. A visitation will be held Friday, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. in the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home Inc.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, 135 Middle Spring Road, Shippensburg, PA 17257.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com.