Robert Franklin Hessong
INDIANAPOLIS – Robert Franklin Hessong Ed.D.
Professor of Education, retired, Butler University died January 6, 2024, at Healthcare of Hoosier Village. Bob was 90 years old.
Bob was born to Alice (Johnson) and Thomas
Peter Hessong in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July
25, 1933. Children born during his marriage to
Annette Carter are Jennifer McCotter, Valorie Gelwicks (Steve), Brent Hessong, and Natalie O’Hara
(Jim). In 1973, Bob married Katheryn Conelley
Norman who brought sons Mark Norman (Joy) and
Paul Norman (Debra) into his life. Bob provided many educational activities for his grandchildren:
Elizabeth (Joe), Penelope (Andy), Patricia (Justin), Laura, Roger (Shelby), Annie, Mimi, Luke (Rowena), Hope, and Katie. Nine great-grandchildren were able to meet him. They are Cecily, Jeffrey, Lydia, Vanessa, Mitchell, Daniel, Jane, Rose, and Luke. Bob’s sister Carolyn Hessong Hickman (Tom) also survives him.
In 1952 Bob graduated from Broad Ripple High School. Purdue University studies in dairy manufacturing were completed in 1958 after he served in a US Army heavy artillery division in Germany for two years. Allergies ended his farming career, so he again chose Purdue to obtain a MS degree in History and Educational Administration in 1962. While he taught science at Lawrence Central High School, he completed 30 hours at Butler University in 1968. Always the learner, Bob graduated from Ball State University in 1971 with his Ed.D. degree.
With his Educational Administration major and cognates in Counseling and Curriculum, Butler University hired him as a teacher in the Education Department. During his 25 years at Butler, he supervised about 500 student teachers, and authored Foundations of Education by Hessong and Weeks, sponsored the campus YMCA, and accepted a Fulbright Scholarship to study educational methods used in the universities of India for six weeks with other Indiana professors.
Bob was blessed with living in a multigenerational farm home with stories of the past and reviews of books shared daily at mealtimes. His Johnson ancestors bought a land grant farm in 1820 that is now part of the Indiana State Fairgrounds. His Hessong and Ringer ancestors came from Maryland in 1840 to plant Lutheran churches in Indianapolis. Bob’s great-grandfather Frank’s 1910 Buick connected Bob to cars. Bob helped “Ampie” Johnson and a cousin build a log cabin; no dream project was too much.
Retirement from Butler in 1995 did not slow Bob. He built a blacksmith shop and honed this new skill with the Rural Smiths by making copper roses and lamps. Travels provided photography opportunities and stimulated discussions with his cabin men. Bob and Kathy’s small church group founded the Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity organization in the late 1980’s.
Bob talked to everyone and brought forth their talents and interests. His students benefitted from his ability to stimulate the exchanges of opinions and leave the circle with new ideas. Bob always worked with his body and his mind.
The celebration of his life will be on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. in Allisonville Christian Church at 7701 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250. The visitation is immediately following the service and will be at the church.
Bob generously donated his body to the Anatomical Education Program at Indiana University School of Medicine. This gift will contribute significantly to the advancement of health and science education in the State of Indiana. His ashes will later be interred at Union Chapel Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to Allisonville Christian Church at 7701 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250 or Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity 3135 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46208.