Dick Sayles Hall

March 3, 1921 - February 3, 2021

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.