Virginia M. Hall

Virginia May Hall, the only child of Ida Sophia (Lagerquist) and Horace Brown Gardner, was born on April 7, 1921 near Elliott, Iowa. Her father was a farmer and they lived on several different rental farms during her childhood. Virginia attended various schools in Montgomery County and graduated from Coburg High School in 1938. Following school, Virginia worked in Red Oak, Iowa at the Thomas D. Murphy Calendar Factory and clerked at Earl May Seed Company and Spurgeons.

Virginia and John Otto Hall, the only son of Bertha Anna (Reed) and Otto Gunnar Hall, were married on October 14, 1943 in Red Oak, while he was on furlough from the Army. John was honorably discharged in June of 1945 and he returned to work with his father in the blacksmith trade in Malvern, Iowa, where he and Virginia made their home. John worked at Hall Welding for 41A 1/2 years until his retirement in 1978. Their marriage was blessed with two sons, Allen John and Warren Dean. Virginia was a mother and homemaker for many years, before working outside the home once again. She clerked in Malvern at Jackson Style Shop, DeWitt Variety, Wilson Clothing, and Dixon Clothing. Virginia also worked at the Malvern Leader newspaper office as a proof reader for several years.

Virginia and John enjoyed camping throughout the Midwest with their family and friends. They especially enjoyed attending the Country Music Jams and Festivals held in Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri, where John would play the dulcimer and sing, and Virginia would do "readings". They also enjoyed watching their children and grandchildren participate in many school, music, and sports events. Virginia and John were very proud that their four grandsons were all Eagle Scouts.

Virginia and John were married nearly 58 years, when John died at home in Malvern on July 10, 2001.

Virginia was a member of the Malvern First Baptist Church, the Baptist Deborah Society, and the American Legion Auxiliary, and had held various offices. She was a member of the Malvern Red Hat Society, enjoyed socializing with the group, and attended many of the town events held in Malvern.

Virginia celebrated all the patriotic holidays with great enthusiasm. She was especially proud that her father was a World War I veteran, her husband a World War II veteran, both sons were Vietnam veterans, and grandson Chris Hall, a Gulf War veteran.

Virginia passed away on July 3, 2011 at the Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, at the age of 90 years, 2 months, and 26 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, Brown and Ida Gardner; husband John Hall; and son Warren Hall in 2005.

Virginia is survived by her son Allen Hall and wife Joyce of Malvern; daughter-in-law Betty Hall of Iowa City, IA; five grandchildren, Benjamin Hall and wife Shannon and their children, Brayden and Ryan of Highland Ranch, CO, Joshua Hall and his wife Robyn and their daughters, Izabella, Lucy, and Ruby of Bennington, NE, Zachary Hall and his children, Heidi, Halle, and Zeb of Sidney, IA, Christopher Hall, and Richelle Hall, and her daughters, Joslyn and Lexy, all of Council Bluffs; and many friends.

Virginia was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and a friend, who will be greatly missed.

A memorial fund has been established.