Dr. Tom H. Hall Jr.

MARSHALL -- Lifelong hero, Tom Hall, of Marshall, TX, passed away in Jackson, MS, May 18, 2005, after an extended battle against the devastating results of an abdominal aortic aneurism suffered March 30, 2005, while driving to see his grandkids in Marietta, Ga. Tom was born September 1, 1938, in Cherokee, OK, and raised in Medford, OK, though his Texas friends never really held that against him (with the possible exception of his rooting for O.U. against t.u. each year). Tom attended Northwestern University in Oklahoma, prior to attending dental school at Baylor University in Dallas, TX. Tom graduated in 1964, and moved his nascent family to Longview, TX, where Tom established his dental practice -- the beginning of a 33 year career. He was loved by his patients and his employees. In 1992, Tom and Peggy moved to Marshall, where Peggy grew up. Tom retired from dentistry in 1997. Tom was a member of the Longview Dental Society, the East Texas Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, served on the Texas State Board of Health, and was a member of the American Dental Association. He was a founder of the East Texas Pistol & Rifle Club, a former ToastMaster, a former chairman of the Gregg County Republican Party, and a member of the Medford, OK Masonic Lodge. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, from childhood through adulthood. Tom was past president of Rotary, and a Paul Harris Fellow. Though far from perfect, Tom was a devout Christian, and is comfortable in his new location. He devoted significant time to teaching in the church, ranging from hand puppet crew for the kids, thru teaching Sunday school for the adults, to being a shepherd in the church. Tom was a Civil War buff, who had great fun later in his life, performing in a war reenactment cannon brigade. Tom (A.K.A. "Super--T") was a member of the infamous Delta Fishing Club, a loose assembly of sometimes professional men, who, despite the overwhelming love for their wives and occupations, found time to leave the state in pursuit of game fish on the Louisiana coast several times a year. He loved his friends, and counted them many -- a true measure of his successful life. Tom's pride and joy was his gorgeous yard and his bountiful garden. This year's garden is one of his best. Tom is predeceased by his father, T.H., and is survived by his mother, Mary, who resides in Little Rock, AR. He has a sister, Barbara, and her husband, Austin Bell, of Little Rock, AR, and a brother, Larry, and his wife, Janet Hall, of Belton, TX. Tom is survived by his wife, Peggy Spangler Hall of Marshall, TX; his son, Trey Hall of La Porte, TX; and his daughter, Kristy Dellinger of Marietta, Ga. Trey and his wife, Karen, have three children, Reyth (9), and twins, Charlee and Rowen (2). Kristy and her husband, Greg, have four children, Haley Greer (8), McKenna Leigh (6), Whitley Grace (4), and Geoffrey Lane (2). (Kristy's kids have two names, since she now lives in Georgia, where that's evidently state law.) Tom and Peggy still cannot believe they're responsible for seven grandkids. Tom is also survived by his sister-in-law, Bonnie Spangler Strauss and husband, Frank Strauss, also of Marshall; along with a multitude of loving nieces, nephews, cousin, and in-laws. Peggy and Tom have been a strong team since 1963, and anticipate a wonderful reunion some time in the future. A visitation will be held at Sullivan-Heaster Funeral Home, 100 E. Travis St., Marshall, TX 75670. (903) 938-7777 from 6:00 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. today, Friday, May 20, 2005. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 21, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. at the Eastern Hills Church of Christ ((903) 938-4422, see address below), followed by a brief graveside service at Colonial Gardens Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Mendy Rabicoff, Richard Riggins, Joost Gosschalk, Bill Huffman, Rex Grantham, Jim Killian, Tony Bass, and Chris Timmins. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Eastern Hills Church of Christ, 2705 East Travis, Marshall, TX 75672. Otherwise, please send memorials to the Longview Area Down Syndrome Support Group, 6 Thorntree, Longview, TX 75601. Alternately, memorials may be sent to the National Down Syndrome Society, www.ndss.org, or 666 Broadway, N.Y., N.Y. 10012.