Don Dale Hall

Don Dale Hall, age 99, of Fairfield, entered into a new life embraced by Jesus at Jefferson County Health Center on March 25, 2021.

A funeral service will be held at Behner Funeral Home & Crematory in Fairfield, IA on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 10 a.m., with Pastor Joseph Phipps officiating. Interment with full military honors will be at the Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield, Iowa.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Behner Funeral Home & Crematory in Fairfield, Iowa. Masonic rites to follow visitation at 6 p.m.

The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers. Cards and memorials to the Fairfield First Presbyterian Church, and the Shriners Hospital for Children can be sent to Ann Beckner, 2555 Garland Lane N., Plymouth, MN 55447.

Don Dale Hall was born on December 14, 1921 in Pleasantville, Iowa, the son of Park Warren Hall and Eula Helen Hunter Hall. He graduated from Pleasantville High School and Iowa Aircraft School in Des Moines, Iowa before being employed one year with the Glen L. Martin Aircraft Bomber plant in Baltimore, Maryland. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Air Transport Command, 1328th AAF Base Unit, in the China-Burma-India area during World War II from September, 1943 through December, 1945, flying aviation fuel plus 250 and 500 lb. bombs to China over the Himalaya Mountains. “Flying the Hump” as the airlift was called. He received the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 2 bronze first battle stars, and a Presidential citation for doing outstanding work which was given out to a first non-combat unit. He was discharged as a sergeant after thirty-eight long months of serving for his country.

He attended Parsons College and belonged to the AKX Fraternity. On October 23, 1947, he married Mary Ellen Mullenix at Barhydt Chapel on the former Parsons College Campus in Fairfield. The last few years of Mary Ellen’s life, Don diligently helped her through her struggles with her health.

Don worked alongside his wife, Mary Ellen, at their own independent insurance agency named Hall Insurance Agency. He was also a Justice of the Peace for Jefferson County and a Police Court Judge for the City of Fairfield for several years.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and served as an Elder.

Don was active in many clubs and organizations which included the following: Clinton Masonic Lodge #15 with a 70 plus year membership, Scottish Rite 32nd Degree in Davenport, Iowa, York Rite Ottumwa, Iowa Bodies, KAABA Shriners (Ambassador), Fairfield Shrine Club (Past President), Eastern Star (Past Worthy Patron), White Shrine of Jerusalem (Past Watchman of Shepherds), American Legion Post #47, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2271, Elks Lodge #1192, Past Rainbow Dad (recipient of the Grand Cross of Color of the Order of the Rainbow for Girls), former member of the Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows Lodge, Charter Member of the Ottumwa Consistory Club, Jefferson County Genealogical Society, Keep Young Club, Heritage Club, Libertyville Travelers, A.A.R.P. and Ottumwa Civil War Round Table.

His hobbies and interests included watching NASCAR races on television along with his wife, playing Rummikub, antique shows, traveling to different countries, wood working, gardening, traveling throughout the United States compiling records at libraries and visiting cemeteries looking for genealogical records.

Don is survived by his son Don D. Hall II of Fairfield; daughter Ann Lorraine (Dennis) Beckner of Plymouth, Minnesota; six grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Billy, wife Mary Ellen and granddaughter Jannelle “Nellie” Beckner.