Donald Hessler
1930-2022
Donald “Tex” Hessler, 91, of Cherry Run, W.Va., went home to be with Jesus on Friday, March 25, 2022, at War Memorial Hospital Extended Care Unit after more than a decade of battling Alzheimer’s. Tex was born on August 13, 1930, at home where he was raised and later raised his own family. He was the oldest of seven children of the late Ward Hessler and Ruth Irene French Hessler.
Tex attended Berkeley Springs High School until the sudden death of his father and went to work to help support his mother and younger siblings. Growing up he attended Cherry Run United Methodist Church and later Michael’s Chapel United Methodist Church. For several years, he sang bass in the Pleasant View Community Choir.
Tex worked most of his life in the construction industry with S.L. Minghini and W. Harley Miller as well as the Fairchild plant in Hagerstown. Over the years, Tex was part of many of the buildings that are around today from the various CNB branch banks, several additions to the former City Hospital, the 167th Airborne Unit and others too numerous to mention.
Tex was most proud of his work after retirement as the Clerk of the Works for Morgan County Schools where he oversaw construction of Warm Springs Middle and Intermediate Schools and the renovation of Berkeley Springs High School. His final construction project was the current Morgan County Courthouse. Unfortunately, he was not able to see it to completion due to his illness.
He never knew a stranger and you could always find Tex helping neighbors, friends, his church, and Pleasant View Community Center. Growing up near the railroad and Potomac River, you might find him floating or fishing with family and his best friend, Melvin “Mike” Fox or chatting with the railroad workers.
Tex loved the game of baseball and grew up playing with some of the best ball players in the area. Tex played on teams all over the area and later turned his love of the game to coaching. He would haul many a young boy from Cherry Run to practice and games. One of those former players was Dennis Rhoe who surprised him by organizing a Tex Hessler and Friends Baseball Day Reunion on September 23, 2007, with many of his former players and teammates sharing stories and memorabilia.
His greatest love, though, was his wife of 62 years, Pat, his children, and great grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Stotler Hessler, son, Donald Craig Hessler and wife Pam of Berkeley Springs and daughter, Penny Hessler Houck and husband Willy of Cherry Run; five grandchildren, Jodi Lewis Bolyard of Niles, Mich., Chelsea Hessler Delph and Scott Hessler of Berkeley Springs, Macy Houck Cole of Cherry Run, Megan Houck of Berkeley Springs, three great grandchildren, Peyton and Zane Bolyard of Niles, Mich. and Emma Delph of Berkeley Springs, two sisters, Doris Hessler Riner of Romney, W.Va. and Nancy Hessler Yost of Berkeley Springs as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Tex was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Charles “Buck” Hessler and Tom Hessler, and sisters Mary Ellen Hessler Lightner and Dianne Hessler.
Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, WV. Pastor Dennis Rhoe will officiate along with music by Pastor Rick Vance. Interment will be in Spohrs Crossroads Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his name to War Memorial Hospital Extended Care Activity Fund, 1 Healthy Way, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 or Michael’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 8604 Martinsburg Road, Hedgesville, WV 25427.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsleyjohnsonfh.com.