Franklin Ide Hall

Franklin left behind a rich legacy of devotion to his family, dedicated service to his country, and a life marked by kindness, admiration for animals, and an easy-going spirit.

Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, on December 16, 1932, to Cora Mitchell Ide and Oran “Jack” Alderman Hall, Franklin spent his early years on Kenwood Avenue, where he planted a magnolia tree at an early age that would grow alongside him and can still be seen today. Franklin often shared stories of his mischievous nature as a teen growing up at Wrightsville Beach that would always bring a smile to everyone’s faces as he reminisced. He attended Sparta High School (1946–1950) while living with his beloved Aunt Mary Medley in Devereux, Georgia, where more fond memories were created spending time with his aunt, who he absolutely adored. Franklin pursued higher education at East Carolina University from 1950 to 1952 with the career dreams of becoming a pilot or an architect. His career path led young Franklin to join the United States Army, sharing many stories of his endeavors while serving in France from 1955 -1958. Franklin proudly wore his Army Veteran’s hat until his last days, carrying a lifelong pride in his contribution to the U.S. Armed Forces and his fellow service members.

In 1954, Franklin married Lillian Mae Williamson in Wilmington, NC. During his early military era, their son, James Franklin Hall, was born in 1957, in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin, France. Franklin relocated to Virginia in 1962, working as a ticket agent for National Airport before joining the Army Map Service in Washington, D.C. In 1965, he married Carol Helen Brinson, welcoming two children, John Franklin Hall (1967) and Angela Kay (Hall) Barley (1971), residing in Alexandria, VA for over 20 years. In 1994, he married Christine Mei-Li Chu, residing in High Knob, Front Royal, and Lake Frederick, VA, for the majority of their marriage.

Franklin dedicated 30+ years as a civilian for the Department of the Army at Fort Belvoir, specializing in configuration management for the Army Computer Systems Command. Following his retirement from civil service in the 1990s, Franklin remained active, working at The Room Store selling furniture and later launching his own dog walking business, a perfect endeavor given his lifelong love for animals, which included his childhood dog Sport, his toy poodle Beau, and his cats Chester and Jack.

Known for his wonderful sense of humor and sarcastic wit, Franklin was a joy to be around and made friends wherever he went. He had an innate kindness and made a point to treat everyone he met with genuine respect and warmth, always extending extra consideration and kindness to waiters and service staff. Franklin had a deep passion for food and loved exploring a wide variety of cuisines, though nothing compared to his absolute favorite meals: Christine's cooking. Franklin spent countless hours perfecting the landscaping of each of his homes and even created a beautiful cactus garden at his residence at Lake Frederick. Throughout his life, he also treasured time spent on the water, sharing a boat and countless memories in Wilmington, NC, with his best friend, Frank Warner. Franklin had a profound appreciation for music and enjoyed attending live concerts and dancing to his favorite artists such as Buddy Guy, The Drifters, and Buckwheat Zydeco to name a few.

Franklin is survived by his loving wife, Christine Chu (Alexandria, VA), his children, James (Nancy) Hall (Raleigh, NC), John (Elizabeth) Hall (Alexandria, VA), Angela (Kimberly) Barley (Lovettsville, VA), and Christine’s children, Janice Chao (Alexandria, VA), and Francie Chao (Tainan, Taiwan). Franklin also leaves behind his seven cherished grandchildren: Andrea, Melinda, Calvin, Sydney, Corbin, Marina, and Holland; and is also survived by his three precious great-grandchildren: Halle, Harrison, and Bailey. Franklin was preceded in death by his parents, Oran and Cora Hall, and his beloved Aunt Mary Medley.

A visitation will be held at Demaine Funeral Home in Springfield, VA on October 11, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. The Funeral Service will follow from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Franklin will be laid to rest in Wilmington, NC, where he started this beautiful journey. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in honor of Franklin Hall.