Ethel Berniece Hall was born Nov. 26, 1921, in Wallace, to John Ernest and Ada E. (Gibson) Whittaker. She passed away on Dec. 7, 2012, at the Wayne Co. Hospital Hospice suite at the age of 91 years and 11 days.
Ethel grew up on her parents’ farm south of Wallace with her five siblings, Eva, Orville, Irma, Harold and Leora.
In 1951, Ethel moved to southern Iowa with her husband Howard (Tex) Hall. Tex and Ethel farmed in several locations in Wayne County as well as a couple years in the Ankeny and Bondurant area. Ethel was the family homemaker and also helped with all the family chores. It wasn’t uncommon to see her milking cows, feeding pigs and gathering eggs in addition to preparing all the meals for the family, which included two sons, Don and Dave.
In 1968, Tex passed away from cancer, and Ethel moved to Corydon in the fall of 1970. She worked in the school lunchroom until her retirement in 1986. Ethel was always known for having a pot of coffee on to share with friends and neighbors who stopped by to visit. She also made wonderful peanut butter cookies which were favorites of her visitors, even the neighborhood beagle who frequently visited. Ethel always had a warm smile and a cheerful personality. She truly enjoyed having her family and friends around her home to visit with.
Ethel was baptized, confirmed, and became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Chariton, Iowa, on Sept. 12, 2010. She enjoyed attending services with her church family as often as possible.
Ethel was preceded in death by her husband; an infant son, Delbert; her parents and siblings; a nephew, Rusty Correll; and niece, Vivian Thayer.
Ethel is survived by her two sons, Donald E. Hall, of Liberty, Mo., and David W. Hall, of Litchfield, Ariz.; nieces and nephews, Clarence Correll (Evelyn) of Gering, Ted Correll (Lois) of North Platte, Jim Correll (Della) of North Platte, Evelyn Daly of North Platte, Rita Correll of Tryon, Jerry Patterson (Sandy) of Hayes Center, Sherry Becker (Larry) of Loveland, Colo.; Vickie Brown (Rich) of Wray, Colo.; Ronald Whittaker (Vonda) of Surprise, Ariz. Ethel is also survived by several grandchildren, great grandchildren, great nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Chariton. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, at Randolph Funeral Home in Corydon, Iowa. Lunch will be served following the service. Burial will be at Allerton Cemetery following lunch.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Trinity Lutheran Church in Chariton, Iowa, or Hospice of Central Iowa. Contributions can be mailed to or left at the funeral home at 204 N. Greeley, PO Box 294, Corydon, Iowa, 50060.