David Barker Hess

David Barker Hess, 52, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 from a sudden massive heart attack. David was born on October 14, 1962 to Paul and Carol Hess in Huntington, WV. He was a 1981 graduate of Oak Hill High School, and graduated from the State Police Academy with Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Marshall University in May of 1987. During his 22 years of service for the West Virginia State Police, he was stationed in Beckley, Martinsburg, Whitesville, Hinton, and Logan, the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, and ended his career at Troop 6 Headquarters as First Lieutenant. In addition to serving and protecting, David loved to educate others. He was an adjunct instructor for Southern WV Community College, where he taught evening classes in Criminal Justice. He also worked as a substitute teacher for the Raleigh County School System for several years. David was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt, fish, and golf. He spent most of his time with his brother and son on their farm in Monroe County. One of David’s greatest joys in life was being a grandpa. He loved to spend as much free time as possible with his grandkids. David was preceded in death by his father, Paul E. Hess. Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 34 years, Trudy Monk Hess; mother, Carol Hess Wilson; son, Thomas “Tommy” Hess and wife, Elisabeth of Oak Hill; daughter, Amanda “Mandy” McDaniel and husband, Josh of Beckley; three grandchildren, Jackson and Clayton Hess, and Reese McDaniel; brother, Lantz and wife, Cindy of Fayetteville; sister, Terry Sauvageot and husband, Mike of South Charleston; special aunt, Judy Bonk; three nieces; three nephews; and all of his State Police family. Services for David will be held at Blue Ridge Funeral Home on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 11:00 am, with State Police Chaplain Jimmy Mitchell officiating. Family will receive guests at the funeral home prior to the funeral service on Sunday from 9:00 am – 11:00. Interment in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens will immediately follow the services on Sunday with his State Police family serving as pallbearers.