Indianapolis, Indiana – Richard Thomas Hess, 77, went to his resting place with Christ on August 22, 2025. His generous spirit and kind nature will not only be missed by his family but also all who knew him.
Rick was born on August 16, 1948, to parents Henry L. & Gladys N. (Moore) Hess in Buffalo, New York. Shortly after he was born, the family moved to Indianapolis where Rick attended Scecina Memorial High School. After graduation, he joined the United States Air Force where he served from 1967 to 1971. After leaving the Air Force, Rick found employment with Kroger, fulfilling many roles for them over the years until his retirement. Rick’s joy at helping others carried on after leaving the Air Force, where he became a volunteer for Outreach Indiana and volunteered his time to all who needed it.
Rick was an avid fisherman and loved to spend time on the water or on the beach when he wasn’t at work. He also could be found singing in his church’s choir or checking out the latest technology. They still haven’t made a TV large enough for Rick.
Most of all, Rick was devoted to his family. Always proud of his children and grandchildren, Rick would let everyone know their accomplishments and how wonderful they were. More than anything, his gentle heart guided his family through the hard times and the good.
Rick is survived by his beloved wife June (Vititoe) Hess; children Joe Hess (Myra), Matthew Hess (Stephanie), Kimberly Hernandez (Eli), Rick Hess, Jr., Jessica Polen (Matt), Libby Icenogle (S. Travis), Erik Dillehay (Pru), Christopher Dillehay (Jennifer), Jason Dillehay, Amanda Moore (Tony), and Paula Dillehay; brothers Robert Hess & David Hess; grandchildren Jonah, Molly, Isabella, Madison, Miranda, Erikka, Mia, Luis, Calvin, Gage, Shay, Olivia, Leya, Neveha, Abigail, Katelyn, Alyssa, Alexis, Scott, Chelsea, Michelle, and Charli; as well as 7 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at Heather Hills Baptist Church (1421 North German Church Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46229) on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, with visitation at 11 am to 12 pm with the service following at 12 pm.
Rick’s family asks that memorial donations be made to Outreach Indiana in his name.
Construction Alert: Blue Line Project Underway
Gradex will reduce the front entrance at Washington Park East to a single lane due to ongoing Blue Line construction. We understand this change may cause significant traffic delays, especially for our funeral, cemetery, and event services.
What we're doing to help:
To ease congestion, we’ve expanded the 10th Street entrance, which will be open during normal business hours for all guests. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate this evolving situation. We’ll continue to monitor traffic flow and make adjustments as needed to ensure the best possible experience for our visitors.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors