Obituary of Alton W. Hall

Alton Hall, devoted father, grandfather, friend and Coach, passed away on June 20, 2021 at the age of 87. Born on April 9, 1934 to Stewart Wakefield Hall and Olive McClintock Hall, he was raised on a dairy farm in Franklin, NY. After graduating from Franklin Central School in 1952, he attended SUNY Cortland where he obtained bachelors and masters degrees in Physical Education. Al proudly served his country in the US Army from 1957 - 1959 and was stationed in Germany. Al is survived by his daughter Joyce Rice (Ronald), sons Steven (Kelly), Andrew (Tricia) and Dean (Sharon), 10 grandchildren: Erin, Brock, Lauren, Norah, Jaden, Kieran, Amanda, Ryan, Julia and Christopher and brother Harold Hall of Sharon Springs, NY. Al is predeceased by his brothers Everett and Floyd Hall. Al met Joan Whelan while at Cortland, they married just after graduation in 1956 and moved to Grahamsville, NY, where they raised four children. If you lived in the area you were familiar with Al, who always had a smile and hearty hello for all he met, believing a stranger is a friend not yet met. Al taught physical education, coached various sports teams and was athletic director; ultimately spending 34 years with the Tri-Valley Central School District. He helped establish the Tri-Valley Youth Commission serving as chairman for many years. He was the founding president of the Tri-Valley Little League where he served in that role and as an umpire for untold seasons. He was proud to be listed on the Sullivan County Public School Sportsman's "Wall of Fame" located at the SUNY Sullivan Gerry Field House. Al served as a volunteer with the Grahamsville Fire Department for more than 45 years and also enjoyed donating his time to the Neversink Renaissance Commission and the Time and the Valley Museum. Al was a real estate broker in the Grahamsville area and when not showing property, he could often be found mowing it. He loved his adopted town and will be missed by many. His love of agriculture brought him to become the vice president and director of the Neversink Agricultural Society, for years helping to organize the annual Grahamsville Little World's Fair. Years spent tinkering with his own and his friends' tractors led to him helping launch the Neversink Rondout Antique Machinery Association in 1999 and assist with the annual Sullivan County Antique Power show. His love of Ferguson tractors was obvious; in 2007, he was appointed to the National Board of Directors of the Ferguson Enthusiasts of North America. Al loved history, genealogy and had a great memory for details. He was proud of his family history and the historic Hallway Dairy Farm in Franklin. A social butterfly, he loved to get to know people, always trying to determine how he knew you or your family. Al was a longtime, devoted member of the Vine & Branch Church in Liberty, NY. Friends and family will gather for a memorial service at 2 pm on July 17, 2021 at Vine & Branch Church with internment at the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery in Liberty, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made in his name to: Vine & Branch Church, Time and the Valley Museum or the New York State Agricultural Society. Arrangements were under the care of Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, for further information please call 845-434-7363 or visit www.colonialfamilyfuneralhome.com.