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William Thomas Bess Jr.

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William Bess Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Oct. 28 to Oct. 29, 2004.

William Thomas Bess, Jr., 80, of Savannah died Sunday, October 24, 2004 at Candler Hospital. Mr. Bess was a native of Huntington, West Virginia and had lived in Savannah since 1984. He was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He then served in the United States Army Air Corps in Nuremberg, Germany. After his release from the Army he joined Union Camp Corporation as a bag salesman, and ultimately retired in 1984 as Executive Vice-President of Union Camp. He then retired to The Landings where he has lived for the past twenty years. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Patricia Patti of Lynnfield, MA, Mrs. Barbara Kristobak of LeBanon, PA, Mrs. Melissa Catalano of Nashville, TN; a son William Thomas Bess III of Irvine, CA; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. Friday at the residence. Savannah Morning News, October 29, 2004 Please sign our Obituary Guestbo ok at www.savannahnow.com

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Recent Activity

November 7, 2004

Janet Kunz posted to the memorial.

November 2, 2004

Georg H. Tirschtigel posted to the memorial.

November 1, 2004

Anne Peluso posted to the memorial.

8 Entries

Janet Kunz

November 7, 2004

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Bess family. I felt honored to be his secretary from 1982 until his last working day at Union Camp, which was the end of a great chapter in his life. It was a privilege to work for such a great leader.

Georg H. Tirschtigel

November 2, 2004

I am sorry to read about Bill Bess´s death. I got to know him at the old UCC headquarters in the Woolworth Building in NYC and later, when I moved to Spain, he came periodically over to check on UCC´s Spanish operations. He seemed quite set in his ways, but pretty straight forward and fair. I last saw him during a brief visit to his home on Skidaway in the early nineties.

Anne Peluso

November 1, 2004

I was saddened to hear of the death of Bill Bess. My husband, Jack, and I send our condolences to the Bess family on their loss. I was Bill's secretary for nine years (1973-1982) and can honestly say that I enjoyed working for him. Again, my condolences.

Bill Howes

November 1, 2004

Bill was my boss and mentor for many years and I enjoyed working for him. He was a demanding leader but fair and you always knew what he expected. Bill always seemed to do his job with great ease and I always thought if I could someday have his job I would have it made. Well I did get his job but still had to work harder than he did. Bill would say that was because he was smarter than me and he was right. I am not sure Skidaway would be the success it is if Bill had not taken responsibility for it back in the 70's.

I feel fortunate that I had one last visit with Bill in May of 2003. It was obvious he was not in good health but he, Bill Dipman and I had some good laughs talking about old times. I'll miss "Mr. Bess".

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Buck Williams

October 29, 2004

Bill bess was one of the early leaders of Union Camp and responsible for some of the early sucess of the company in the Paper Industry. He was no nonsense business manager that expected the very best from his troops, and generally received it. Buck Williams

Doug Bess, Jr.

October 28, 2004

I have many memories of Uncle Bill especially when he came to Huntington while on business with Union Camp to visit his parents Bill and Mary Bertha Bess (known to me, my brother, my sister and my cousins as Buck and Grannie). I was fortunate to be at my grandparents house many of the times Uncle Bill came to visit. He always made me laugh the way he carried on with the family.

In later years my wife Marcelle and our 4 children had the opportunity to visit Uncle Bill at The Landings during the time our oldest son Nick was attending Savannah College of Art and Design. He always showed us a good time even though he wasn't feeling well. We will miss him greatly.

Alzora Graham

October 28, 2004

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Mr. Bess. I only met him once while on business for ADT. He and I talked for a long time about how he came to live on the Landings and the difference that he made at UNION Camp. May God keep you all in this time of need.

Alzora Walker Graham

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