Robert H. Ness was born on July 7, 1923. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy and reached the rate of Signalman Third Class, recorded on his memorial marker as SM3.
Navy signalmen served in the vital field of visual communications. Their duties included transmitting and receiving messages by signal flags, semaphore, flashing light, and other visual methods used between ships and shore stations. Although the ship or station to which Robert was assigned has not yet been identified, his rating preserves an important part of the work he performed while serving his country.
Robert belonged to a family whose history is closely connected to Holly Hill. He was the brother of Florence “Flo” Ford and Phillip D. Ness.
Robert died on March 6, 2012, and was laid to rest at Holly Hill Veterans Cemetery in Blairsville, Georgia. His memorial preserves the essential record of his service: Signalman Third Class, United States Navy, World War II. At Holly Hill, his name, service, and place within the Ness family will continue to be remembered.