James Gilbert Hall

James "Gilbert" Hall, 85, of Sherman, TX, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2025, in Prosper, TX while in the care of his family.
Gilbert Hall was born on June 2, 1940, in Charlestown, IN, to Austin Hall and Jessie Hall. Gilbert graduated from Scottsburg High School in 1958 while working on the family and neighboring farms. Gilbert began working for Cummins Engine Company in 1959. In his later tenure with Cummins, Gilbert answered the call to ministry on Mother's Day 1965 and preached his first sermon that evening.
While continuing to work for Cummins, Gilbert became the pastor of Austin Wesleyan Church in 1968 in addition to studying ministerial curriculum. Gilbert stepped away from a 13-year career with Cummins Engine Company and began full time ministry in 1972 where he pastored and preached for 40 years.
Gilbert proved to be a man of many skills and developed a strong skillset in construction that ran parallel with his full-time ministry to provide a means for his family. Gilbert was also proficient at fixing anything ranging from trucks, cars, appliances, and of course home related projects. This rich history of ministry, construction, and hands-on approach created an incredible platform to raise a family, teaching them many life lessons, and giving them an experience and skills for a lifetime.
Gilbert married Caroline Shearer on June 9, 1962, in Lexington, IN at the Jefferson County (Church) Camp. Caroline was the love of his life, and they remained married (63 years) until his passing. You would frequently see Gilbert and Caroline holding hands and talking together whether with family, a restaurant, or church.
After years of pastoring, Gilbert and Caroline relocated to Greenwood, IN to be closer to their roots and extended family located throughout Indiana. As health began to wane in later years, Gilbert realized they would soon need support, and relocated to their final home in Sherman, TX, within proximity of their children and closer yet to a friendly welcoming church, Sherman Bible Methodist. Gilbert and Caroline were continuously together in their last 5 years attending church, going out for lunch or dinner, attending "senior night" with church friends, and spending 3-day weekends with family each week.
Gilbert was best known for building and fixing anything, and he had a tenacious drive that has been summed up in one word: "could"-especially when told he couldn't do something. He was often one of the first to build enthusiasm for a project that caught his attention and would become a primary promoter to get the work done. Gilbert loved to spend time with family and friends, whether enjoying dinner, playing table games, basketball, or softball; and he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his boys in their teen years.
Gilbert is preceded in death by his parents, Austin Hall and Jessie (Haycox) Hall; six siblings, Austin "Bud" Hall, Mary Miller, Robert Hall, Glenn Hall, Evelyn Hall and, Joyce Kiefer. Gilbert is survived by his wife, Caroline Hall, two daughters, Brenda (Hall) & Doug Tiede and Diana (Hall) & Brian Wardlaw; two sons, Erick & Dessica Hall and Jared & Melinda Hall; five siblings, Don Hall, Parvin Hall, JoAnn Graham, Gary Hall, and Mike Hall; and his grandchildren Brian Wardlaw II, Crystal Bourne, Aaron Wardlaw, Nathan Hall, Kyle Hall, Jericka Pearson, Landon Hall, Eli Hall, Kaden Hall, and Erin Hall as well as great grandchildren Amelia Wardlaw, Gracelyn Wardlaw, Olivia Wardlaw, Levi Wardlaw, Jayven Pearson, Emmett Wardlaw, and Charlotte Wardlaw.
A memorial for Rev. Gilbert Hall will be held on Saturday, September 20, at 10:30am at Sherman Bible Methodist Church, Sherman, Texas. Funeral service for Rev. Gilbert Hall will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 11:00am at Collins Funeral Home in Scottsburg, Indiana. Visitation will be Friday, September 26, 2025, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and prior to the funeral service at 10:00am on Saturday at Collins Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service at Scottsburg Cemetery in Scottsburg, Indiana. Memorial donations can be made in Gilbert's name to Sherman Bible Methodist Church - Family Life Center (FLC) fund as it was his desire to help start a church building project at 80 years old in c/o Collins Funeral Home. Please feel free to share memories and condolences at www.collinsfuneralhome.net.