Obituaries

Deborah “Debbie” Johnson Hess, age 74, of Hampton, Virginia, passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Debbie was born on May 29, 1952, in Newport News, Virginia. She graduated from Warwick High School in 1970 and earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Gardner Webb College in 1980. In 1994, she was awarded a master’s degree in counseling from Boston University. She worked as a teacher, counselor, and legal secretary.

Debbie married her first husband, Jim Kipper, in 1974, and together they had three amazing children. In 1987, she married her second husband, Dave Hess, who was a fighter pilot in the Air Force. She lived in Germany for many years and traveled throughout Europe with her children in the summers, building lasting memories. She moved back to Virginia in 1995 when Dave retired from the military. However, he was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease soon after, and Debbie spent the next 13 years lovingly caring for him, until his death in 2008.

From scuba diving in the Bahamas to visiting her daughter in California and her son in South Africa, Debbie loved to travel and was always up for an adventure. She adored her grandchildren and spent many happy years helping to take care of them when they were young. She loved to read, a love she instilled in her daughter, Becky, from a very early age. She was a Scrabble savant. It was nearly impossible to beat her at the game, and the rumor is that they eventually stopped letting her play at her retirement community, the Devonshire in Hampton, where she happily spent the last six years of her life. She loved the mountains and dancing when her favorite songs came on. She was crazy about her children and was never happier than when they were all together, laughing and cutting up. She was often silly and usually laughing, and she will be deeply missed by all who loved her.

Debbie is survived by her daughter, Becky Kipper and her wife Alex; brother, Alan Johnson and his wife Anne; sister, Amanda Smith and her husband Keith; grandchildren, Damien Kipper and Kaylei Kipper; first husband, Jim Kipper; daughter-in-Law, Joey Kipper, widow of her beloved Daniel; nieces, Shannon Ray and her husband Chris, and Kelly Garrett; nephews, Stephen Johnson and Matt Johnson; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Preceding her in death were her grandparents, Marion and Lula Bass, and Edward and Gertrude Johnson; parents, Clyde and Ruth Bass Johnson; husband, MAJ David Hess; and beloved sons, James Daniel Kipper and SSG David Joseph Kipper.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, September 12, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Angelo’s in Newport News. Bring a memory to share as we celebrate Debbie’s life. A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Peninsula Funeral Home in Newport News. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Debbie’s name to Faith Recovery at https://faithrecoveryhope.org/donate/.

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Boulevard, Newport News, Virginia 23601.