Evelyn Wheaton Hall

Evelyn Wheaton Hall, 81, of Towanda, Pa., passed away Thursday morning, December 6, 2012 at the Sayre House surrounded by her loving family. She was born Aug. 27, 1931, to Merton B. and Margaret Wheaton of Potterville, in what is believed to be the oldest frame house in Warren Township. Evelyn grew up on her parents’ farm and attended the Potterville grade school, Orwell High School and LeRaysville High School, where she graduated in 1949. She was a member of the Potterville Church. As a youngster, Evelyn was very much the tomboy, earning the nickname “Cowboy Joe” and always wearing jeans and a ball cap. Throughout her life, she never cared for frills or lace. She mowed yards around Potterville for 15 or 25 cents apiece, and also drove Gay Chaffee’s horses during haying season. Evelyn loved and became very good at baseball. Her father was a pitcher for the Potterville men’s baseball team and Evelyn inherited his pitching arm. Her wish for her 16th birthday was to get a new baseball glove — which she received. An avid fan of baseball star Ted Williams, she played softball in high school and even had the skills to build pitcher’s mounds and backboards on her own. During World War II, Evelyn showed her patriotism by writing to area servicemen. She also wrote “The Story of The Darling Cemetery,” which chronicled the cemetery’s history from 1804 to 1948. Members of Evelyn’s paternal grandmother’s family, the Beardslees, were buried in Darling Cemetery, and she often pedaled her bike from her home to the cemetery to do research. After graduation, Evelyn did a variety of things. She worked on the family farm and, after taking a correspondence art course, often lettered trucks and signs. She also printed and developed photos in her home. In 1951, Evelyn took a job at Ransom’s Insurance, in Towanda. Her co-worker Freda Hall introduced Evelyn to her brother, Dick Hall, and romance soon blossomed. While Dick was overseas in the service, Evelyn enjoyed passing the time by using the woodworking tools in the basement shop of her father-in-law, Fred Hall. Evelyn and Dick married after he returned from the service, on April 30, 1954, in the Towanda Methodist parsonage, with the Rev. Edgar Sabin officiating. Evelyn and Dick soon moved into the house at 202 William St., where they would raise their three wonderful children and live the rest of their lives. Evelyn, being artistic and having what she called a “straight eye,” designed renovations for the house, using every square inch. Over the years, she worked in many Towanda-area offices, as well as at Farm Credit and a temporary, one-year job at DuPont. In the 1960s she colored about 4,400 photos with transparent oils for photographer Eugene Fazekas, until colored film took their place. She also did more sign lettering. Evelyn loved all her jobs but was especially fond of her role as secretary at Christ Episcopal Church, in Towanda, which she filled more than 20 years, working with three different priests. She was so pleased to have found her niche, even though she was good- naturedly teased about being a Presbyterian. Evelyn was a member of Towanda Presbyterian Church for more than 56 years, where she taught Sunday school for some time and she and Dick attended regularly. Never one for idleness, Evelyn kept herself busy. As if the job of being a mother and housekeeper weren’t enough, she constantly sought additional tasks and projects for the benefit of her family and others. Evelyn was an avid crafter, and many will remember the red and white felt three- dimensional, embroidered named Christmas stockings she made, still being used by many in the third generation. She made over 2,200 of these. She also made many neckties, as well as clothes for her family and did sewing for others. In her spare time, Evelyn was an avid bowler and enjoyed genealogy. In spite of her illness in later years, she was still able to help others through her church job and was loved by those who knew her. She would have enjoyed volunteering in her retirement years but ill health prevented her from doing so. Evelyn and Dick were a generous couple, often helping those in need. Evelyn will be remembered as a hard-working, caring and loving friend and family member. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Steven R. and Teresa Hall of Towanda, PA and their children, Amber N. Conrad and husband Ian of West Jordan, Utah, Ashley E. DeFazio and husband Chris of Kansas City, Mo., and Ethan S. Hall of Towanda, Pa.; her daughter, Sue Hall of Towanda; her son and daughter-in-law Scott F. Hall and Carli Yeager-Hall of Athens, PA and their children, Darius and Grace; her sisters and brother-in-law Betty and Albert Moore of Wilmington, Del., and Dorothy Keeney of Monroeton; her brother and sister-in-law Fred M. and Donna Wheaton of Potterville; sisters-in-law Freda Hall Shipley of Bethlehem, Pa., and Jean Hall-Kafes of Towanda; several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and cousins; her dear friends the Apple family of French Lick, Indiana, Randy and Karen Apple Emmons, Darrell and Shelly Apple, and Kristy Apple and their families; and her special “granddog,” Hans. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Richard F. “Dick” Hall, on May 14, 1995; brothers-in-law Wayne K. Keeney, Lloyd E. Hall, Dave Bechtold and Ben Shipley; a sister-in-law, Beatie Bechtold; her parents, Merton and Margaret Inman Wheaton; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Fred and Hattie S. Hall; and close friends Jean and Wayne Apple and their son, Jerry, and her beloved dog Buffy. The funeral service will be held Monday, December 10, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home 217 York Ave. Towanda, PA. Interment will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Towanda, PA. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2 to 4 pm and one hour prior to the funeral service Monday morning at the funeral home. The family requests that contributions be directed to the charity or organization of one’s choice in Evelyn’s memory. Memories and condolences may be expressed and shared by visiting www.bowenfuneralhomes.com .

Evelyn Wheaton Hall

August 27, 1931 - December 6, 2012

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Evelyn Wheaton Hall

August 27, 1931 - December 6, 2012

365 Days of Grief Support

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