William "Bill" Edward Hall

William (Bill) Edward Hall, a long-time resident of Mobile, Alabama, was born near Harmonsburg, PA on January 31, 1936. He died at home on August 20, 2019 after a long and courageous struggle with corticobasal degeneration (CBD), a rare neurological disease. He was the oldest child of Virgil Henry and Ethel Ruth Tovey Hall. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Donald Virgil Hall.

Bill graduated from Saegertown High School in 1954 where he excelled in drama and public speaking. He took the lead in the Junior Class Play. Bill moved to Vero Beach, FL where he became an apprentice carpenter and took night school classes for four years in all aspects of construction. He moved to California in 1964 where he became the youngest Project Manager for Oberg Construction and built the Library at University of California-Irvine. When employed by the J.B. Allen Company, Bill was Project Manager for the construction of Santa Ana City Hall, CA and Westminster Community Hospital, CA. He received a letters of commendation from the hospital owners and the architect for competent and dedicated construction management, writing that Bill was the finest Project Manager with whom they had worked. In Mobile in 1976, Bill founded Hall Construction Company where he was one of a select few contractors licensed by the city to remodel Mobile’s historic homes.

Bill was a lifelong boating enthusiast and adventurer. He completely rebuilt a 42-foot albacore fishing boat in California. In 1975, with his wife Holly and brother David, he captained Wave Walker safely from Newport Beach, California, through the Panama Canal to Mobile, 6,600 nautical miles. Years later, he became fond of Puerto Rico, his second home, and cruised the Caribbean in his charter boat Wave Walker II. Bill was a history buff, loved classical music and New Orleans-style jazz. An avid fan of artist Caravaggio, he traveled Europe and the Mediterranean to view his works. Those who knew Bill enjoyed his ever-present sense of humor, his persistent inquisitiveness, wanderlust and spirituality. His religious beliefs and observances anchored him throughout the years. He was a kind, loving and dedicated husband and father. He will be remembered by his family for his understanding of them with all their foibles and being a “sunshine maker”.

Bill is survived by his wife of 46 years, Holly, brothers Robert John Hall of La Plata, MD, David Raymond Hall of Woodville, AL, and sister Mary Ester (Ms. George) Bollis of Vero Beach, FL, daughters, Susan Jean (Ms. Michael) Bowen of Pawley Island, SC, Deborah Ann (Ms. John Barry) Hall of Betty’s Bay, South Africa, Lisa Marie (Ms. Tommy) Hearndon of Vero Beach, FL, and Mary Lou Cooper of Fort Lauderdale, FL, several grandchildren and great grandchildren, and his cat Misty.

The family wishes to thank the compassionate caregivers at Covenant Care Hospice, Mobile, who took amazing and loving care of Bill for his last nine months.

The family will celebrate Bill’s life at his home church, Christ Church Cathedral, on Saturday, August 31st: visitation at 10:00 A.M. and memorial service at 11:00 A.M.

Bill’s fervent desire was to donate his brain to further neurological research on CBD. Wonderfully, the Brain Support Network (BSN) facilitated the complex donation process. In lieu of flowers, Bill and the family wish that memorial donations to be made to the Brain Support Network, PO Box 7264, Menlo Park, CA 94026. Please write “mem William Hall” on the check and enclose your e-mail if you want a receipt. If you would like BSN to notify the family of your kind donation, include your mailing or e-mail address (BSN will not reveal the donation amount). You may also donate by credit card at www.brainsupportnetwor.org or by phone (650)995-6379. If you prefer, donations may be made to Christ Church Cathedral, 115 S Conception St, Mobile, AL 36602 or the charity of your choice.