Susan Marie Hall was born on a ranch in Swartz, New Mexico on December 23rd, 1924, the youngest of eight children. Her parents were Spanish immigrants from Barcelona, Spain, who became American citizens and achieved the American economic dream by acquiring the ranch in the Mimbres Valley of New Mexico.
Susan received her elementary and high school education at St. Mary’s Catholic Boarding School in Silver City, New Mexico. She received an academic scholarship to Marymount University in Salina, Kansas, where she entered the nursing program. Susan graduated in 1943, returned to Silver City and began working at Watts Clinic, operated by the doctor who had delivered her when she was born. She remained at the clinic for several years and later worked at the VA Hospital at Fort Bayard, New Mexico.
In 1946, she married, Raymond William Hall, a military officer, she had met during her college years in Kansas. He continued his military career in the Army Reserve and later became a VA Hospital Administrator. Wherever he was transferred, she would find work as a registered nurse. She continued her professional nursing career as a supervisor in the District of Columbia Hospital system, when Ray was transferred to Bowie, Maryland. Susan received numerous outstanding service awards during her time in DC, culminating with being selected as the Outstanding Supervisor Of The Year, in 1985.
Susan and Ray’s primary hobby and tool for relaxation had always been Ballroom and Country Western dancing. They became deeply involved in advanced lessons and qualified to teach others to dance while in Maryland and the District of Columbia. They joined several dance clubs and participated in dance weekends in nearby states.
When Susan and Ray retired in 1986, they moved to Universal City, Texas and immediately became involved in teaching dancing in New Braunfels and Universal City. During their teaching years, they taught over 200 students to dance while instilling in these students the same love of dancing which had always motivated them. They were also involved with several of their students in founding the Carousel Ballroom Dance Club in 1995, which is still, to this day, providing ballroom dancing for club members.
In 2016, Susan and Ray moved to Annapolis, Maryland, to live out their final years. She continued to live there after Ray passed in 2020.
Susan died peacefully on Thursday, March 23, 2023. She was 98 years old. Susan is survived by her 5 adult children, Victoria (Jerry Lahman), Gilda (Jerry Sebold), Randolph, Gregory and Jeffrey (Kristy); 8 grandchildren, Nichole, Andrew, Christopher, Monica, Erin, Brianna, Courtney, and Kaitlyn; 3 great grandchildren, Alexa, Traegen, and Carter. She is predeceased by her husband of 73 years, Colonel Raymond William Hall, her parents, 5 sisters and 2 brothers.
Funeral services will be held on April 12, 2023, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, in Selma Texas, at 11:00 am. She will be buried next to her beloved husband, Raymond, following the Mass.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colonialuniversal.com for the Hall family.
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