A life well lived: Barbara Mary Stephens Hesse, a resident of San Angelo for 74 years, died October 27, 2024, at the age of 94.
Barbara was born on April 27, 1930, on a farm in Gray County, Texas, to John L Stephens of Cornwall, England and Dorothy Bice Stephens of Devon, England. She was the youngest of three children and a first-generation American. Her sister, Patricia Stephens Rainey, and her brother, Jack L. Stephens, both predeceased her.
Barbara grew up in rural Gray County, Texas, near White Deer/Groom, Texas and started her formal education in a one-room schoolhouse, Grandview School, located a few miles from the family's farm. She later attended school in Pampa, Texas, where she completed her secondary education. In high school, Barbara played piano, marimba and tympani in the school band and orchestra, and in her senior year, she was elected Band Sweetheart. Barbara was interested in drama, and she earned roles in the Junior Play, as well as in the Senior Play. She also served as a member of the journalism staff for the Little Harvester, the high school yearbook.
After graduating from Pampa High School in 1948, Barbara moved to Denver, Colorado to attend Colorado Women's College (now Denver University), where she studied English literature and journalism. She was president of Beta Phi Gamma, a national honorary journalism fraternity and a member of the college Fencing Club. She graduated from college in 1950 with an Associate’s Degree in Journalism.
In 1950, Barbara moved to San Angelo, where her eventual aunt by marriage, Helen Jackson, was then the first woman reporter for the San Angelo Standard Times. Barbara soon took a job with the Standard Times and thereafter called San Angelo home.
Later, on what had appeared to be a normal weekday, Barbara and a friend were crossing a street in downtown San Angelo. As fate would have it, Sam Hesse was crossing the same street in the opposite direction. The three paused in the middle of the street for Sam’s introduction to Barbara, and nothing was ever the same; Barbara had met the love of her life and her partner for all times and in all things. Sam and Barbara were married in San Angelo on October 20, 1951.
After a brief stint in Midland while Sam worked in the Land and Legal Department of Standard Oil of Texas, Barbara and Sam returned to San Angelo where they lived for the rest of their lives. Both Barbara and Sam worked for Hesse Real Estate/Hesse Insurance Company Agency, a real estate and insurance firm that Sam's father had founded in the 1920s. Barbara gave up journalism, trained as a real estate broker and joined the San Angelo Board of Realtors. Her work in real estate helped Barbara learn about San Angelo, about Tom Green County and about the people who live in West Texas.
In the mid-1950s, the Hesses welcomed a daughter, Karen, and a son, Stephen, both of whom grew up and went to school in San Angelo. The family joined the First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo; they regularly attended worship services and actively participated in congregational activities. Barbara was a group leader in Community Bible Study, taught Sunday School and, later, served as an Elder.
The Hesses celebrated their family and became involved in numerous aspects of life in San Angelo and Tom Green County. They worked hard together, gave back to the community and made many memories just having fun. Both Barbara and Sam loved to dance, and on weekends, they often rolled up the living-room rug to jitterbug!
In 1961, about the time that Fort Concho was designated a National Historic Landmark, Barbara discovered her passionate and life-long dedication to conserving and rebuilding the Fort. As a member, and later as President, of the San Angelo Junior League, Barbara furthered the Chapter's work at historic Fort Concho, which was greatly enhanced and extended by Barbara's personal commitment, her sincere dedication and her ever expansive dreams. In addition to her volunteer activities, Barbara demonstrated leadership qualities. She initially served as a Member of the Fort Concho Board of Directors, and later she served as President of the Fort Concho Board of Directors.
In 2009, the Girl Scouts honored Barbara as one of Eight (8) San Angelo "Women of Distinction" for her civic contributions to the City, including her exemplary work at Fort Concho, her appointment to the City of San Angelo Preservation Task Force, her service as San Angelo's Historic Preservation Officer and her receipt of the Texas Historical Commission's Texas Award for Historic Preservation.
The Texas American Institute of Architects presented Barbara Hesse its Honor Award for her preservation and restoration work at the Fort, and the Texas Society of Architects recognized her with a Citation of Honor for that work, as well as her conservation and preservation work throughout San Angelo and Tom Green County.
A further honor is the Hesse Championship Cup, named in Barbara's honor. It is the trophy that goes to the winner of the U.S. Cavalry Association Regional Competition held annually at Fort Concho. The event incorporates contests in combat and military horsemanship, jumping, saber and pistol.
In addition to honors received in connection with her Fort Concho work, Barbara has also undertaken significant work to preserve historic parts of downtown San Angelo and to safeguard San Angelo's architecture. She served as an Executive Committee Member of Historic San Angelo, Inc. and as a Board Member and
Director of the San Angelo Old Town Conservancy. Notably, Barbara worked to create the "Old Town" section of downtown San Angelo for the relocation and restoration of historic home and buildings in danger of destruction.
Barbara was predeceased by her husband, Sam Hesse; her parents, John and Dorothy Stephens; her brother, Jack Stephens; her sister, Patricia Stephens Rainey; and her grandson, Sam Clayton Hesse.
Barbara is survived by her daughter, Karen Hesse Smith; her son-in-law, Mark Smith; her granddaughter, Alejandra (Sacha) Hesse Smith, all of San Angelo; her son Stephen Hesse; her daughter-in-law, Gretchen Steib Hesse; her grandson, Curt Christopher Hesse and his wife, Kelcey Rieger Hesse; and her great grandson, Sam Wyatt Hesse, all of Houston. She is also survived by niece Ann Sayer of Montrose, Texas; nephews Larry Stephens of Gray County, Texas, and Brant Stephens of Groom, Texas, and nephew Alan Stephens of Canyon, Texas.
Graveside services for Barbara will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday morning, November 2, 2024, at Fairmount Cemetery, 1120 W Ave N, San Angelo, Texas 76901.
For those desiring to acknowledge Barbara’s life, the family suggests that memorial contributions be directed to Fort Concho, to the First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
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