Mary Ann Van-Bowen-Hess, died on August 2, 2018 at her home in Solebury Township.
Born in Syracuse, New York in 1924, she was the daughter of the late Grace Walsh and William Webster Van, a 1920’s Vaudeville actor.
She was raised in New Port, New Hampshire. Mary Ann graduated in 1942 from Towle High School where her classmates described her as “tall and sedate, headed straight for success.” She went to New York City where she served as Executive Assistant to the celebrity host, Arthur Godfrey, at CBS until his death in 1983.
She married American Airlines pilot William Bowen in 1976. During her marriage to Bill and after his death in 1986, Mary Ann enjoyed golfing in Westhampton, N.Y. where she owned an oceanfront home and at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida.
Mary Ann married John D. Hess in 2001 at his alma mater’s chapel in Hanover, New Hampshire, after which they lived together on his farm in Solebury Township. John died in 2004.
She is survived by her nephew, Peter Harding of Riverside, CA; Bill’s daughters: Sallie B. Ulsher and Margaret B. Cassidy, both of Butte, Montana and John’s son Anthony G. Hess of Kintnersville, PA.
Mary Ann was predeceased by her siblings, Billy B. Van, Jr. and Bonnie Grace Harding and John’s son, Oliver G. Hess.
Interment of her ashes will be private.
Mary Ann asked that any contributions in her memory be made to: Animal Alliance of New Jersey, 1432 Route 179, Lambertville, NJ 08530.