Robert “Bob” Howard Bess, 83, of West Virginia, passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord on September 7, 2025, after a lengthy illness.
Born on August 29, 1942, in Cedar Grove, WV, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, C. Howard and Ethel Bess; his sister, Phyllis Bess; his brother, Melvin Bess; and, most heartbreakingly, by his three children, Denise Bess, Robert “Robby” Bess, and C. Dwayne Bess.
Bob is survived by his devoted wife, Linda Gray Bess; his stepsons, Ronnie “Mark” (Deanna) Jarrett and Matthew Jarrett; and a large family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He shared a special bond with his great-grandsons, Isaiah and Jacob Osborne, who brought him much joy in his later years.
A warrior in every sense, Bob proudly enlisted in the U.S. Army with the desire to serve in Vietnam. There, he became an assault helicopter pilot flying Hueys with the 187 and earned a reputation for skill and bravery. On many missions, he even landed under heavy fire to rescue a friend, an act that showed both his courage and his loyalty. Flying into danger to bring others home forged unbreakable bonds with his brothers-in-arms. Several of these men will travel great distances to honor him—a true testament to his character.
Bob carried that same spirit into civilian life. A Chevy man through and through, he loved his cars almost as much as he loved his time outdoors. He was an avid deer hunter, finding peace in the woods and joy in sharing those stories with family and friends. Professionally, he worked tirelessly on behalf of others, serving as a Union Representative at GMC in Cincinnati, OH, a Field Representative with the UMWA, and Director of Health and Safety with the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Program. His voice was always raised for fairness and protection of others.
Later in life, Bob moved to Florida to be near his Vietnam Crew Chief, Phillip Bryant, and Phillip’s wife Beverly. Quickly becoming “Uncle Bob” to their children, he cherished that extended family deeply.
A passionate sports fan, Bob was a dedicated WVU Football season ticket holder for more than 20 years. Fittingly, WVU’s recent victory over Pitt in the Backyard Brawl felt like a salute to one of their proudest supporters.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 11, at 2:00 p.m. at the UMWA Union Hall in Cannelton, WV. For those unable to attend, the family welcomes memories and stories of
Bob to be shared during the service. Please send remembrances to Deanna Jarrett at dljarrett1974@yahoo.com. Following the ceremony, a catered dinner will be served.
In honor of Bob’s lifelong generosity, any leftover food from the celebration, will be distributed to members of the community in need and flowers will be placed upon the graves of Bob and his children.
Per his wishes, Bob will be cremated and laid to rest beside his children at Kanawha County Memorial Garden in Glasgow, WV.
Above all, Bob will be remembered as a warrior, an advocate, a loyal friend, and a man who never missed a chance to feed others and make them feel welcome.
