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Bernard Albert Hess Jr., 80, of Jacksonville went to be with the Lord in Heaven on July 30, 2021.  He was born November 1, 1940 in Wynne, Arkansas as the fourth child to the late Josephine and Bernard Hess Sr.  In addition to his parents, Bernard was preceded in death by his sister, Ruby Lee Hess.

Bernard graduated from Wynne High School in 1959 and was a member of the 445 ^th Artillery Battalion in Wynne at the age of sixteen. During his tour of duty, his unit was federalized from September 24 to October 23, 1957 to assist in the crisis at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bernard was inducted into the Air Force on August 1, 1960 and completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He was sent to Homestead Air Force Base in Florida as a nuclear weapons loader on B47 and B52 aircrafts. After one year, Bernard became an evaluator for the weapons loading crew. In 1962, he was sent to Hurlburt Field #9 in Florida and trained as an air commando. After training, he was sent to Vietnam as an American advisor. No one knew he was in Vietnam. During this time, his first child, Bernard III, was born but the Red Cross could not locate Bernard. He received a picture from his wife two weeks after his birth and was finally reunited when Bernard III was three months old. Bernard was honorably discharged from the Air Force July 29, 1964. He moved back to Wynne and worked for Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company in Forrest City, Arkansas as a machinist for six and a half years. He rejoined the Air Force in 1971 as a nuclear weapons technician at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. In 1974, Bernard was sent to Rimini Air Base in Italy. In addition to his normal duties, he was elected President of the American School for Dependent Children. He served in Florida, Arkansas, South Carolina, Michigan, Colorado, Korea, Japan, Philippines and Oklahoma. Bernard retired from the Air Force in 1989 and the United States Postal Service in 2003.

Those left to cherish his memory include his daughters, Crystal Hess of Lakewood, Colorado, Jinah (Eric Hidalgo) Hess of Kathleen, Georgia and Lisa Ah (Patrick) Hess Cromer of Maumelle, Arkansas; his son, Bernard "Bert" Albert (Lilly) Hess III of Lakewood, Colorado; grandchildren, Pettie Hess of Lakewood, Colorado, and Levi and Leo Cromer of Maumelle, Arkansas; sisters, Barbara Hess Reeves of Little Rock, Arkansas, Margaret Futrell of Vanndale, Arkansas, and Shirley Hess Manuel of McCrory, Arkansas; brothers, Charles (Scottie) Hess of Amagon, Arkansas, and John (Cora) Hess or Madison, Alabama; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Funeral services 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 12, 2021 at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home, with visitation one hour prior at the funeral home. Bernard will be laid to rest at Arkansas State Veteran's Cemetery in North Little Rock after the service. Arrangements by Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home, (501) 982-2136.