Kathryn Ann "Kitty" Hess

     Kathryn Ann “Kitty” Hess, 84, of Chillicothe, passed at 3:14 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at her home following a short illness.

     Kitty was born march 13,1941 in Chillicothe to Lawrence G. and Gladys A. Shea Hess.  Kitty attended Chillicothe High School and graduated from Catholic Central high school in 1959. She received her higher education at Miami-Jacobs college and the Ohio State University.

She began her career with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Chillicothe. She was promoted to Chief, Medical Administration Service at the VA in Columbus and subsequently worked as the Executive Assistant to the Medical Center Director at the VA in Cincinnati and Fort Wayne, Indiana. She returned to the VA in Chillicothe in 1988 and served as Executive Assistant to the Medical Center Director until her retirement in 1994. She received numerous awards throughout her career to include Ohio's outstanding VA employee. She was also named Federal Executive of the year by the Southeastern Ohio Federal Executive Association.

     Immediately following retirement, she obtained her realtor's license from Hondros College and has been a Licensed Realtor in Ohio since 1994. She worked for Coldwell Banker and subsequently was part owner of Century 21. In 2010, she joined the team of professional realtors at Kear Realty, Inc. She became the Corporate Director of Kear Realty and thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Kear Team. She has been a member of the Scioto Valley Board of Realtors, The Ohio Association of Realtors, and The National Association of Realtors. She was a consistent multimillion dollar producer and received numerous awards to include the coveted Presidents Sale Club Award from the Ohio Association of Realtors, and the prestigious International Diamond Award from Coldwell Banker. She also served on numerous committees of the Scioto Valley Board of Realtors.

     Kitty served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross and also served on the Board of Directors for the Ross County Chapter of the American Heart Association. She was a member of the American Legion Post 757 and also a member of the Chillicothe Country Club. Kitty was also a Kentucky Colonel.

     She is survived by her lifetime partner, James W. VanGundy. Survivors also include and sisters-in-law Cathy Hess of Charlotte, North Carolina and Joan Hess, of Chillicothe. She is also survived by very special nieces and nephews, Dr. Philip J. Hess, Jr (Pam) of Indianapolis, Indiana; John Hess of Charlotte, NC; Sally Renko of Boca Raton; Kristin (Charles) James of Charleston, SC; Kathi Hilgert of Philadelphia; Jon (Christine) Hilgert of Dunwoody, GA, and Nicole Hess of Chillicothe; several great nieces and nephews; and several cousins and special cousins, Robert C. Hess of Chillicothe, and James Hess, of Glen Ellyn, IL. She was predeceased by her parents, beloved brothers, Dr. Philip J. Hess and Thomas L. Hess; a sister and brother-in-law Mary Ellen and Robert Hilgert; a nephew-in-law, Ken Renko.

     Kitty loved football and especially the Ohio State Buckeyes. She enjoyed meeting people and promoting her hometown. She was a loving and caring person and will be missed by many.

     The family would like to extend a very special thank you to Dr. John Gabis and Dr. John Seidensticker and their nurses and also Kitty’s nurses, Michelle and Melissa, from Home Health Care for the care and kindness shown to Kitty.

     Mass of Chrisitan Burial will be offered 1 p.m. Thursday, May 22, 2025 in St. Peter Church with Fr. Stanislaus John, Celebrant.  Burial will follow in Grandview Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior to the Mass on Thursday.  Arrangements are under the direction of the WARE FUNERAL HOME.

     In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to a charity of one’s choice. 

     You may sign her online register at warefh.com

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