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Willard Hess, world's armored-car supplier
Willard C. Hess, who helped build a local firm into an internationally-known armored-car supplier to presidents, kings and sheiks, died Sunday. He was 94.
He, along with close friends and family members, bought a 50-year-old maker of hearses and ambulances in 1942 to form Hess & Eisenhardt Manufacturing.
It made a variety of speciality vehicles, including 20 custom Cadillacs built as "harem cars" for King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Hess told Butler County's Antique Car Club in 1976. Those cars had one-way glass so occupants could see out, but not be seen. With car air-conditioning unavailable, each vehicle had two electric fans to cool the king's wives.
In 1951, aides to President Truman, concerned about a 1950 attack on Blair House where Truman was living while the White House was renovated, asked Mr. Hess to design a car to withstand a similar attack.
That began a long tradition of building armored cars for use around the world. Since then, Hess & Eisenhardt limousines have gone to every U.S. president as well as 60 international heads of state and countless diplomats and business people.
Once Mr. Hess was done adding armour to the presidential limousines, they were virtually soundproof and President Lyndon Johnson didn't like that.
"Bugging mikes became an obsession with LBJ," Mr. Hess said, because Johnson "couldn't tell whether crowds outside were cheering or jeering."
The firm also built a special armored car for long-time FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and for England's Queen Elizabeth II.
Three days after President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963, Mr. Hess also was called to Washington to consult with the Warren Commission on an investigation into the death.
Mr. Hess's company was sold in 1982 and now operates as O'Gara Hess & Eisenhardt.
Mr. Hess is survived by his wife, Adele Amig Hess; a daughter, Jane Hess Walker of Wyoming; two sons, John Daniel Hess of Detroit and Willard C. Hess Jr. of Milford, Mich.; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Wyoming Presbyterian Church, 325 Wyoming Ave. Hodapp Funeral Home, 7401 Vine St., Carthage, is in charge.
Memorials may be made to the Willard C. Hess Memorial Fund of the Wyoming School Foundation, 401 Crescent Ave., Wyoming; or Dan Beard Council, Boy Scouts of America, 2341 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati.
Date of announcement:03-16-2000
Ralph Knost, teacher, avid boater, traveler
Ralph P. Knost, a business and accounting teacher and an avid boater and traveler, died Wednesday. He was 81.
The Blue Ash resident was a former business teacher at Colerain High School and also had taught accounting at the University of Cincinnati's Raymond Walters College in Blue Ash.
"He really enjoyed teaching," said his wife, Charlotte. "He was very much admired by his students."
He was also an avid boater and loved to travel with his wife.
"Oh my, how he loved his days on the river," she said.
In 1962, the couple traveled around the world. "Back in '62, it was not very usual," Mrs. Knost said. "We thoroughly enjoyed it."
A University of Cincinnati graduate with bachelor's and master's degrees, Mr. Knost was a charter member and past president of Delta Chapter of Delta Pi Epsilon, a national honorary fraternity in graduate business education.
During World War II, he served as a training director of the U.S. Army Transportation Corps in Norfolk, Va.
He helped write an accounting textbook, was a former church councilman at Norwood English Lutheran Church, and enjoyed playing the piano.
Mr. Knost is also survived by three nephews and a niece.
Service: 10 a.m. Saturday, Elden A. Good Funeral Home, Hyde Park. Visitation: 9 a.m. Memorials: Norwood English Lutheran Church.
Date of announcement:03-16-2000
Fred Pennington, 'Papa P,' church trustee, deacon
Fred Pennington died Friday, leaving a legacy of "peaceful kindness" with the congregation of Zion Baptist Church in Avondale. He was 88.
The Avondale resident was known affectionately as "Papa P" to many. Mr. Pennington was a trustee emeritus and deacon at the church. He was a member of the church usher board for 40 years, and was elected to the church's diaconte in 1989. He delivered church bulletins to the sick and shut-ins and always made sure the church was stocked with the calendars it distributed to members.
He did it all with a smile and "peaceful kindness," his family said.
Before retirement, Mr. Pennington was a butcher at Kahn's Packing House for 40 years. He was also a businessman, dealing in real estate and a grocery store. He was a member and past treasurer of the Kahn's retirement club.
Survivors include his wife, Thelma Pennington.
Services were Wednesday at Zion Baptist Church. Renfro Funeral Home, Avondale, handled arrangements.
Date of announcement:03-16-2000
DAVID GLEN BOLING, 43, of Georgetown, Ohio, died Tuesday. He was an operating engineer for Jurgensen Construction Co. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Cahall Funeral Home, Georgetown, Ohio. Visitation: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement:03-16-2000
MAXINE W. FOSTER, 72, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., died Wednesday. She was a retired dietary worker with Dearborn County Hospital. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Fitch-Denney Funeral Home, Lawrenceburg. Visitation: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials: Trinity Episcopal Church or charity of the donor's choice.
Date of announcement:03-16-2000
BARBARA A. HACKER, 62, of Sunman, Ind., died Tuesday. She was a homemaker. Services: 10 a.m. Friday at Cook Funeral Home, Sunman. Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials: Sunman Area Life Squad.
Date of announcement:03-16-2000
ALBERT L. HARDY JR., 57, of Patriot, Ind., Tuesday. He was a retired mechanical engineer. Services: Noon Saturday at Concord Community Church, Patriot. Visitation: 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Markland Funeral Home, Rising Sun, Ind. Memorials: American Diabetes. Association.
Date of announcement:03-16-2000
WILLIAM IVEY, 66, of Springfield Township, died March 11. He was a supervisor for U. S. Playing Cards. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, 11400 Winton Road, Forest Park. Visitation: 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement:03-16-2000
LEROY SHIELDS, 81, of Lockland, died Friday. He was a security guard with Xerox i n Columbus. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, Lockland. Visitation: 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement:03-16-2000
Gertrude Roesel, honored by pope
Gertrude Mary Ross Roesel was a strong Catholic with a love for children whose volunteer work prompted a special citation from the pope.
The Villa Hills, Ky., woman, who was born in Cincinnati, went to church every day and worked more than 25 years as a medical assistant to local pediatricians.
She was honored by the pope in the 1970s for her volunteer work for the Sisters of Notre Dame and Catholic Social Services.
"She had an Irish sense of humor and just a real sincere love for children," said a son, Joseph F. Roesel of Crestview Hills.
Mrs. Roesel died Thursday morning at Madonna Manor in Villa Hills. She was 91.
She was a medical assistant for a succession of pediatricians, including Robert Biltz of Newport and Elmer DeVillez and Eduardo Remo, both of Covington. She got her last job when she was 72, working nine years for the Diocese of Covington's cemetery office.
Her husband, Edward Roesel, died in 1955, and a son, Earl Roesel, died in 1995.
Other survivors include a daughter, Mary Estelle Roesel of Fort Wright, Ky., nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Stephen Church in Newport. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Swindler and Currin Funeral Home in Latonia, Ky. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery in Fort Thomas, Ky.
Memorials are suggested to Madonna Manor, 2344 Amsterdam Road, Villa Hills, Ky. 41017; or Catholic Social Services, 3629 Church St., Covington, Ky. 41015.
Date of announcement:03-17-2000
GEORGE W. ADAMS, 74, of Lincoln Heights, died March 14. He was a taxi driver. Services: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, 400 North Wayne Avenue, Lockland. Visitation: 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement:03-17-2000
ALTA M. RUE, 84, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., died Thursday. She was a retired employee of Seagram's Distillery. Memorial services: 2 p.m. Saturday at Fitch-Denney Funeral Home, Lawrenceburg. Memorials: Charity of the donor's choice.
Date of announcement:03-17-2000
ERSKIN SPEER SR., 98, of Walnut Hills, died Tuesday. He was a car loader. Services: 10 a.m. Monday at Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, Walnut Hills. Visitation: 9 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement:03-17-2000
Harry Meacham, helped raise money for heliport
Harry L. Meacham was an electrical engineer who worked on the design of more than 90 large construction projects in Greater Cincinnati, including at the University of Cincinnati, Jewish Hospital, Procter & Gamble Co. and the Westin Hotel.
Mr. Meacham, 69, of Florence, died Thursday at his home.
Born in Indiana, Mr. Meacham traveled down the East Coast in the 1950s as an engineer with a gas pipeline company.
He eventually relocated to Cincinnati and worked as an electrical contractor for Becker Electric until he retired in 1980, said his son, Dr. James E. Meacham of Indianapolis.
After retiring, he continued to work as a contractor on a freelance basis.
He pushed for and helped raise money to build a heliport at University Hospital.
"He was a quiet man - a loner is the best way I could put it," his son said. "He was a fairly quiet, detail-oriented planner. . . . He loved drawing and drafting. He worked at a drafting table probably right up until he died."
Mr. Meacham was a Coast Guard veteran of World War II.
For relaxation, Mr. Meacham enjoyed fishing, his son said.
Survivors include other sons Scott D. Meacham of Hebron, David L. Meacham of Lexington and Dr. Christopher Meacham of Cincinnati; a daughter, Rev. Janet Fromm of Lexington; a brother, Allen E. Meacham of Phoenix; and six grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Catchen and Son Funeral Home, Elsmere-Erlanger, is handling arrangements.
Date of announcement:03-18-2000
