Dick Sayles Hall died February 3, one month shy of his 100th birthday,
in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He was a resident of Bartlesville for most of
the last 75 years.
A native of the state of Nebraska, Mr. Hall was born in 1921 in Grant at
the home of his grandmother and grew to the age of 5 on a cattle ranch
east of Grant. From the age of 6 he was raised on a farm near Murray,
Nebraska. It was there he learned the principles of integrity,
discipline, hard work and resourcefulness that he passed on to future
generations. He was home educated for three years then attended a
one-room school through eighth grade. Dick graduated from Plattsmouth
High School in May 1938, enrolled in the University of Nebraska and
participated for four years in the ROTC program. During college he sang
in the Men’s Glee Club and the university choir and played the upright
bass in the symphony orchestra. He was a member of honorary societies
Sigma Tau and Scabbard and Blade. To offset school costs he worked in
several jobs, but mostly at NU for 35 to 50 cents per hour (tuition was
$1.50 per credit hour at that time). He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant
US. Army Reserves in June 1942.
After graduating in June 1943 with a BS in Chemical Engineering, Dick
was called into active service and became a platoon leader in the
formation of the 94th Chemical Mortar Battalion. He was sent to the
European Theatre of Operations as Company B Executive Officer with that
unit attached to the Third Army Tank Battalion. They engaged the enemy
along the Danube River in April 1945. At the end of WWII in Europe, Lt.
Hall became Company Commander and was moved back to the U.S. to be
deployed with the 94th in the South Pacific; however, those orders were
cancelled due to the war ending. In June 1946 he was promoted to Captain
and assigned to the Reserves. He was honorably discharged from the Army
in June 1952.
Dick met Jean Kirschner, the love of his life, in the choir at
University of Nebraska. She also graduated from NU with a BS in
education. Upon his return from service in World War II, they were
married November 5, 1945 at First Christian Church in Beatrice,
Nebraska. In June 1946, Dick started his 39-year career with Phillips
Petroleum Company, Research and Development, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma
including a two-year period in Borger, Texas in the Gasoline Department.
Early in their careers, Jean also worked for Phillips for a brief time
before starting a family. In R&D Dick used small scale, pilot plant
procedures in the development of processes that could be used
commercially to optimize carbon blacks, rubbers, Marlex high-density
polyethylene plastic and other plastics and chemicals. Dick was
co-holder of 16 patents. He supported the licensing of patents and
manufacturing processes by giving technical talks and traveling to areas
of the U.S., Mexico, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Scotland, and
Spain. Jean often accompanied him and they lived in Italy for three
months while Dick facilitated a licensee plant start-up. He retired
February 1, 1985 as a Branch Manager in Research and Development
Division; he and Jean continued to live in Bartlesville. After
retirement they traveled together in 49 states (not Maine), Canada,
Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, France, England,
Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.
Dick was a longtime member of First Christian Church, Bartlesville,
serving as chairman of various committees, Elder, General Board member,
song leader and choir member. He enjoyed gardening, taking pictures with
his camera and he had a special appreciation for art, especially Native
American and western art and wood carvings of animals. When his twin
daughters were active with Sooner Saddler Riding Club, he helped with
various club activities including the Drill Team that competed annually
at the Pawhuska Cavalcade and won four 1st place flags there. After the
death of one of their daughters, Dick assisted Jean and another couple
in starting a local chapter of Compassionate Friends. Following
retirement he volunteered with Bluestem Therapeutic Horseback Riding
program, serving on the Board of Directors for 10 years, as Chairman of
the Building Committee for the riding building west of the Bartlesville
Municipal Airport and as a trained assistant for riders. The Halls were
longtime members of Woolaroc. He cared for his wife in her final years
with a special love and patience.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Major Isaac Hall and Blanche
Sayles Hall; his sister, Joan Hall; his wife, Jean; and their daughter,
Nancy Jean.
He is survived by his daughter, Janet Cooledge (Tony
Mendonca) of Santa Fe, New Mexico; son, David Hall (Lori Robertson), of
Bartlesville; and daughter, Carol Whitacre (Tom) of Bartlesville; six
grandchildren, Amber Isham, Mariah Sbrocca, Jesse Hall, Kelli Lee,
Patrick Lee and Daniel Lee; and five great grandchildren.
Dick will be remembered by his family as a source of great support and
love, a wonderful example of aging with grace and positivity. . . a man
worthy of respect. Dad had a sense of humor and a keen mind for problem
solving and for repairing anything. He and Mom planned wonderful family
vacations to national parks, to Rabbit Ears Lodge, to visit family and
trips to water ski at Grand Lake. Dick loved spending time with his
grandchildren when they were growing up. They remember his big vegetable
garden that he took such great care of, riding the lawn tractor with
him, trips to Woolaroc, the family reunion at a Colorado dude ranch, and
running his remote control car. He enjoyed watching his great
grandchildren play with his old toys. He was greatly loved and will be
greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Woolaroc (P.O. Box 1647, Bartlesville,
OK 74005); Brighter Living Services at Elder Care (1223 Swan Drive,
Bartlesville, OK 74006); Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
(The Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma, 10425 South 82nd East Ave, Suite
104, Tulsa, OK 74133); Allstar Therapy Group, a therapeutic riding
program, (37500 U.S. Highway 75, Ramona, OK 74061) would be welcomed.
Please use the memo line to designate In Memory Of Dick Hall.
Dick’s family will receive friends at the Davis Family Funeral Home and
Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel, 918-333-7665, 4201 Nowata Rd,
Bartlesville, on Thursday, February 11th, from 3-6 p.m. Also, on
Thursday from 10 – 8 p.m. the guest register will be available for
friends to sign.
The family respectfully request private family services. Services are
under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home
and Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances
may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.
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