Thomas Lynch Hail

1933 - 2022

Thomas Lynch Hail
11/17/1933 - 10/06/2022
Thomas Lynch Hail, known to his family and friends as Tom or Tommy, entered Heaven October 6, 2022. Tom was a devoted follower of Jesus, loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a loyal friend to many and loved gathering with friends.
Tom was born in Houston, Texas and prided himself on being a native Houstonian like generations before him. He was the son of Ellen Ross Hail and Egbert Orndorff Hail. He grew up riding horses and stirring up a little trouble along the way. He graduated from Lamar High School and The University of Texas as a Petroleum Engineer. While at UT, he was a proud member of SAE and met his wife of 64 years, Bitsey Elliott Hail.
Tom was an active member of St. Martin's Episcopal Church where he served as an usher for many years, enjoyed the fellowship of his Bible study group, served on the Vestry and was Senior Warden. Through his involvement at St. Martin's, he not only grew in his relationship with Christ, but also with many wonderful friends.
Tommy was natural, but intentional in building relationships. He leveraged his greatest passions to build the finest friendships imaginable. The Oil and Gas "bidness" was not just a living, it was a social life. Longhorn football wasn't about just wins and losses, it was time well spent with family and friends. The fields and waters of South Texas were where friendships were fortified. They caught many fish and filled many bird bags, but no one will ever be able to count the memories made.
By far, Tom's greatest passion was for God, his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He delighted in planning ski trips, Hilton Head excursions and special "Tom and Bippy" birthday surprises for his eight grandchildren.
Tom was preceded in death by his son, Thomas Lynch Hail, Jr., his parents and his brother, E.A. He is survived by his devoted wife, Bitsey, and their three children, Melinda Lafitte and her husband, Mike, Darrell Hail and his wife, Cassandra, and Chaille Winfield and her husband, Hank. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren: Amy Lafitte, Blake Lafitte and wife Ellen, Laura Lafitte Howell and husband Boone, Becca and Sam Hail, Tommy, Will and Jack Winfield, and his two great grandchildren: Sutton and Wilder Berry, plus cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service and reception will be held to honor Tom's life on Monday, October 17th at 2:00 p.m. at St. Martin's Episcopal Church. Immediately following the service, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the Bagby Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Tom's honor be directed to St. Martin's Episcopal Church Endowment - 717 Sage, Houston, TX 77056; or to MD Anderson Cancer Center - Dr. Vivek Subbiah Various Donors Clinical Trials Research (PS101663) - P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486.