Lindsay B. Hess

1931 - 2018

Lindsay B. Hess, 87, of Faith, passed away Saturday, June 23, 2018 at his home in Faith. He was born May 12, 1931 in Faith to the late Jay and Ruby Ludwig Hess. Lindsay was a graduate of Granite Quarry High School. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, a member of Faith American Legion Post 327, the Secret Order of the Quiet Birdmen, a former member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and International Council of Air Shows. Lindsay was an opera singer turned aviator. He started singing in elementary school plays. He was singing at weddings as a teenager, in the high school glee club, church choirs and community choruses. Voice classes at Catawba College soon followed. He sang with the Salisbury Rowan Choral Society. He was given parts in musicals and light operas in New York. He also worked and sang with the United Service Organization. After learning to fly to commute from Faith to New York, his singing career was put on hold to pursue a career in aviation. Lindsay earned his instructors rating and was flying for Southeast Aeromotive in Charlotte in the late 1950s when he met his wife Carolyn, an Easter Airlines stewardess. He was the FBO at the Rock Hill Airport from 1963-74, and at the Rowan County Airport from 1980-96. He toured the country in the mid-1970s with the Great American Air Show. That led him to being one of the stars of the Great American Air Circus which toured South Africa for three months in 1979. He flew air shows at Carowinds from 1975-77, Charlotte Motor Speedway's pre-race show from 1980-83 and the Faith Fourth of July Celebration from 1973-86. In 1975, Lindsay and the late Jim Holland were the first civilian aerobatic team to perform stunts with their planes tied together by a 25 foot piece of rope. In the early 1960s, he flew for race car driver Curtis Turner and for Jim Neely Enterprises in the early 1980s. He started Food Lion's aviation program in the early 1980s and flew for them into the mid-1990s. Lindsay retired from aviation at the end of 1996. In addition to his parents, Lindsay was preceded in death by an infant son; his wife, Carolyn Lassell Hess; son, Jaye Lindsay Hess; sister, Marcia Kay Austin; nephew, Gilbert Jay Austin; and brother, David Hess. Lindsay is survived by his daughter, Jennie Hess Paterno of Salisbury; sons, Bryan Keith Hess of Faith and Jonathan Gary Hess of Faith; grandson, Dayton Hess; granddaughter, Landrie Hess; brothers, John Hess and wife Lynn of Rockwell and Terry Hess and wife Doris of Faith; and numerous extended family members. Visitation: The family will greet friends and relatives on Thursday, July 12, 2018 from 1-2 p.m. at Powles Staton Funeral Home. Services: The memorial service will be held at on Thursday, July 12, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Powles Staton Funeral Home Chapel, with Alan Hess officiating. Burial will follow at the Faith Lutheran Church Cemetery with Military Graveside Rites provided by the United States Air Force and the Rowan County Honor Guard. Powles Staton Funeral Home of Rockwell, honored provider of veteran's funeral care, is assisting the Hess family. Online condolences may be made at www.powlesfuneralhome.com.