John Stephen Hall & Elizabeth Ann Hall

John Stephen Hall and Elizabeth Ann (Blakley) Hall, both 74, passed away November 6, 2021. John and Elizabeth’s love for each other was second only to their love for and devotion to God. They were kind, giving, and thoughtful. Their affection for one another grew deeper and brighter through their 51 years of marriage. To everyone who knew them, they were the sweetest couple and set a wonderful example of life and love.

John was a gentle and affectionate husband, father, grandfather (Poppy), and brother. He was born on February 16, 1947 to Charles (Bill) and Metabeth Hall. John graduated from Reitz High School in 1965. He attended Purdue University then graduated from USI in 1974 with a Bachelors degree in marketing. He served as Staff Sergeant with the US Air Force for four years. John began his career in marketing, business administration and engineering at Indiana Bell, Ameritech and finally AT&T, retiring after 27 years. John then returned to the field and most recently worked for Yates Engineering of Bloomington as a Communications Engineer. He was highly regarded by his colleagues and was said to have an exceptional gift for the work he did.

John loved to stay busy, challenging himself by learning new things. He balanced humility with confidence. He could always figure things out and could convince others he knew what he was doing, even when he was still learning himself. John was an avid collector of model cars, trains, and planes. He shared a love for the outdoors with his father and enjoyed watching birds, sitting next to a fire, and taking 4-wheeler adventures with his son, Steven. John was baptized early in life, but, along with his granddaughter Ella, chose to rededicate his relationship with God through baptism. John appreciated the simple things: the peace of the early morning, a bedtime cup of coffee, and snuggling with his wife, kids and grandkids. 

Elizabeth (Betty) was a vivacious and loving wife, mother, grandmother (BeBe), and sister. She was born on August 6, 1947 to Charles and Cecile Blakley. Elizabeth graduated from Mater Dei in 1965. Then graduated from Purdue in 1970 with a Bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences. She served as an Extension Agent in Posey County for five years. Elizabeth then worked in education and the media, followed by 20 years as a coordinator for Stonebelt in Bloomington and Evansville ARC, training staff to advocate and accommodate employment of individuals with disabilities. She excelled in this field and continued to support individuals with special needs into her retirement years.

Elizabeth treasured being a homemaker, planning family get-togethers, and decorating for the holidays when they would all gather. She was a member of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) for over 40 years. It was an integral part of her walk with the Lord, and God used this time with her to increase her love for Him and others. Elizabeth loved to laugh and tell stories and would often repeat them multiple times. She found great happiness working in her yard and filling her home with fresh flowers and plants. Like her mother, she enjoyed playing games with her children and grandchildren and would play “fair and square,” never just letting the kids win because, as she liked to say, “the box says 8 and up!” Invariably, her personality filled every room and brightened every phone call with joy and playfulness. She was generous with her love and couldn’t resist a good squeeze. 

John and Elizabeth met in 1968 at Lamey’s Dance Hall. Even while on crutches with a broken leg, John was able to woo her. They married on August 15, 1970. Their first two years were spent in England, where John was stationed in the Air Force. John and Betty saw this time abroad as a kind of extended honeymoon, giving them the chance to live and travel throughout Europe. After returning to the United States in the mid 70’s, they settled in Mt.Vernon, Indiana. In the years that followed, they moved throughout the state, but spent the majority of their years together in Bloomington, Indiana.

John and Elizabeth often enjoyed camping with their three children and would regularly pile blankets in the car, driving long hours to picturesque destinations. En route, John would play the radio and sing along to his favorite oldies, as Elizabeth thumbed through all the tourist pamphlets she’d pick up at every rest stop. They enjoyed cooking together, often debating whose recipes were better. They also enjoyed hunting for bargains at garage sales and auctions. Their deep enjoyment of each other’s company, no matter what they were doing, only grew throughout their 50-year marriage. They couldn’t stand to be apart and referred to their marriage as a wonderful adventure. John and Elizabeth had a deep and abiding love for the Lord and lived their lives in a way that reflected God's love to others.

John and Elizabeth felt blessed to share close relationships with their children and grandchildren. They are survived by their three children: Holly (Scott) Branam, Heather (Lisa) Samra Hall, and Steven (Jenny) Hall. Their grandchildren: Ella, Chris, Caleb, and Sara (Sparks) Branam, Sophia and Henry Samra, Mars Samra Hall, and Wyatt, Katelyn, Sadie, and Gracyn Hall.

John and Elizabeth both had very large families. John is survived by his sisters Phyllis (Brian) Cox, Nancy Allen, and Ellen (Bob) Barbara. Elizabeth is survived by her sisters Mary Theresa McFadin, Debbie (Jim) Hillebrand, Linda (Mike) Fendrich, Karen Bush, Brenda (Buzz) Latham, and Pam Phillips. In addition to their siblings, they had more than 75 nieces and nephews. 

They are preceded in death by their parents, as well as by John’s sister Sue Rudenko; Elizabeth’s sister, Rita Jones;brother-in-laws Hughie Jones, Brian Phillips, and Woody McFadin; and niece, Robin Phillips. 

John and Elizabeth adored their family and friends and prioritized spending as much time with them as possible. They will be deeply missed by all who knew them. We, the family, find comfort and assurance in God’s promise, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

A celebration of John and Elizabeth’s lives will be held at the New Harmony Inn Conference Center (504 North St. New Harmony, Indiana) on Saturday, November 20, 2021 from 1-4pm, with a memorial program beginning at 3pm. Denning Family Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon is overseeing the arrangements. Memories of John and Elizabeth may be shared at denningfamilyfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John and Elizabeth’s names may be directed to:

Wesselman Woods https://wesselmanwoods.org/get-involved#donate 

Bible Study Fellowship https://www.bsfinternational.org/