Hess, Phyllis

1935 - 2021

Phyllis Louise Hess, 85, of Lewis Center, OH, passed away Wednesday, March 17, 2021 in the home her husband built in 1965 with family by her side. She was born December 3, 1935 to Russell and Louise Ream in Worthington, OH. Phyllis married David J. Hess Jr. on September 5, 1958 in Columbus, OH. She was an Olentangy Schools bus driver for 30 years, retired in 2003. Phyllis was known as the “Voice of the Braves” announcing HS football games for 25 years and HS basketball games for 10 years. She was inducted into the 2019 Olentangy Braves High School Athletic Hall of Fame making Phyllis and her daughter the only mother/daughter team inducted. She was the Director of the Central Ohio Grasshoppers, golf group, for 25 years, served 10 years as Secretary and 3 years as Executive Director for the American Daffodil Society and won their Silver Medal Service Award in 2008, and was a member of the Heisey Collectors of America where her mother was their first president.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, David J Hess Jr; brother, Roger H. (Susan)

Ream; children, Teresa (Michael) Rice, Bradley and Douglas (Kimberly) Hess; grandchildren, Ashley (David) Shore, Natalie Rice, Melissa Rice, Sierra Hess, Savannah Hess, Patrick (Kayla) Hess, and Nickolas (Olivia) Hess; great-grandchildren, Marissa, Alannah, Everett, Cohen and Conor. A ‘Celebration of Life’ service will be held at the grave site at 11am Thursday, March 25, 2021 at Fairview Memorial Park on State Route 23, Delaware, OH.

In lieu of flowers, donate to

American Daffodil Society (daffodilusa.org) or Heisey Collectors of America at 169 W. Church St., Newark, OH 43055. Condolences may be made to the family at www.rutherfordfuneralhome.com