James Leroy Hall

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

James Leroy Hall, 79, of Friendswood, Texas passed away from complications from cancer on Saturday, February 20, 2016. He was born February 1, 1937 to Lawson Hall and Ruby Nell Alley Hall in Blytheville.

Leroy graduated from Blytheville High School in 1955 and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1959. He trained as a meteorologist while in the Air Force and appeared as the weekend weatherman on KWTX in Waco. Leroy attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Texas Lutheran College, and he earned a B.S. in Mathematics from Baylor University. He continued his studies while working at NASA and received an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Houston, where he also did further postgraduate work.

Leroy's work life started in the cotton fields of Arkansas when he was five years old and progressed to include 20 years at NASA's Johnson Space Center. He worked in Building 30 for those 20 years and retired from NASA in 1983 as the Division Chief of the Ground Data Systems Division. He worked in the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Shuttle programs at NASA and continued working in the Shuttle program at Unisys, Loral and Lockheed Martin.

Leroy was baptized and confirmed at House of Prayer Lutheran Church in Clear Lake City by Reverend Calder Gibson II, where he served as a deacon, as Vice President of the Church Council, and as a confirmation teacher. He was currently a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Friendswood, Texas, where he was a Stephen Minister and a co-leader of a Small Group Ministry group.

Leroy was preceded in death by his parents, Lawson and Ruby Hall, and by his brother, Jodie Hall. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Pat; his son Craig and daughter-in-law Robin; his son Jon and daughter-in-law Robin, all of Friendswood; his daughter Amy, of Washington, D.C.; and his son Andrew, of West Hollywood, Cal. He leaves behind five granddaughters, Elisabeth, Victoria, Kimberly, Hannah, and Alexandra. He is also survived by his sister, Juanita Grammer, and many other family members.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, February 26, 2016 at 10 a.m. at the Hope Lutheran Church, 1804 S. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, Texas 77546 with Rev. Ralph Hobratschk officiating. Interment will follow at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Dickinson, Texas.

Pallbearers will include Craig Hall, Jon Hall, Andy Hall, Bill Tipton, Jr., Raymond Beken and John O'Herren. Honorary Pallbearers will include George Roy, Jim Rebstock, Paul Newhoff, Bill Tipton, Sr., Kurt Swanson and Chris Hope.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a charity of your choice related to feeding those in need.

Condolences may be sent to the Hall family in care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhome.com.