James Willard Hall

James Willard Hall (“Willard”), age 86, of Salem, VA died on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. He was born on May 12, 1936, the son of James Grattan and Elma Kathleen Lee Hall.

Willard was born and raised on the family farm in Catawba, VA, attended Andrew Lewis High School, was married at the Catawba Hospital Chapel to the love of his life, Ruth, and was a lifelong resident of the Catawba Valley and Mason Cove areas. He previously worked at Rowe Furniture and Catawba Hospital, having retired (and then unretired, retired, unretired, and retired again) from the water treatment plant and buildings and grounds crew at the hospital. Never one to sit idle for long even in final retirement, he enjoyed “piddling” in his garden, maintaining the land around his home, telling tales of life on the farm, and traveling across the Unites States on bus excursions with Ruth. He was also a long-time member of Catawba United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Jimmy Hall; an infant daughter; and brothers-in-law Wayne Garman and Junior Miller. Surviving to cherish his memory are his wife of 67 years, Ruth Inez Miller Hall; his daughter Elizabeth (and Brian) Barger of Matthews, NC; and granddaughters Meagan Lineberger (Thomas) of Charlotte, NC and Emily Barger of Arlington, VA. Also surviving are his sister, Patty Hall Garman, of Waynesboro, VA; and sister-in-law, Betty Miller, of Saltville, VA.

Family and friends are invited to visitation on Wednesday, December 28, 10-11am at Lotz Funeral Home in Salem, VA. Pastor Ben Lockhart will lead a memorial service at the Lotz Chapel at 11am. Burial will follow at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park in Roanoke, VA.