May 25, 1940 - July 29, 2010

ELKHART -- Nancy Rose Hess, 70, of Elkhart, passed away on Thursday (July 29, 2010) at 11:20 a.m. in Elkhart General Hospital after an extended illness.

She was born in Elkhart on May 25, 1940, to Wesley R. and Sylvia (Hostetler) Baker and later married Paul Hess, who passed away in Elkhart in 1986.

Surviving are three sons, Douglas (Bettina) Hess of Cologne, Germany, Paul Hess of Bristol and Baltzer D. "Buzz" Hess of Las Vegas, Nev.; three daughters, Patricia (Bill) Butler Jones of Parchment, Mich., and Joy Swanson and Donita (Michael) Butler Zapata, both of Elkhart; and two sisters, Elizabeth A. "Anne" Windbigler of Elkhart and Jacqueline Chase of Hollis, N.H. Eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren survive as well.

She was preceded in death by brother Wesley Baker and two sisters, Alice Paden and Barbara Weldy.

Friends and family may gather at River Valley Community Church, 55855 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka, on Saturday (Aug. 14, 2010) from 1 to 2 p.m. for a celebration of Nancy's life, followed by a memorial service starting at 2 p.m. The Rev. Don Carpenter will officiate, and a dinner will be served at the church following the service. In accordance with her wishes, Nancy has been cremated .

Although Nancy worked for a while at Taylor Products in Elkhart as a press operator, her real talent was with music, where she was able to play a large variety of instruments, including guitar and piano.

Combining this ability with her affinity to marketing and sales, and her entrepreneurial spirit, she became owner of the Hess Music Studio of Elkhart for several years. She also enjoyed traveling, with anywhere "out west" among her favorite destinations. Over the years, she managed to set up other music studios there.

Nancy also served as a WAC in the U.S. Army during the Cold War era, where she served as a cryptographer -- someone who coded and decoded classified messages.

Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, is entrusted with arrangements. Memorials may be given to United Cancer Services of Elkhart County.