Basil Dean Hall

Basil Dean Hall, age 86, of Huntington, died at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, (December 30, 2014) Miller’s Merry Manor in Huntington, with his wife MJ by his side. Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday (January 4, 2015) at Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday (January 5, 2015) at Bailey-Love Mortuary with Pastor Chris Hayden officiating. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory in Huntington County with military graveside rites performed by VFW Post #2689 of Huntington. Preferred memorials are to American Heart Association, Cancer Services for Huntington County, or Huntington PAL Club, in care of Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington, IN. Basil was born on July 24, 1928 in Wabash, the son of Clyde B. and Fairie B. (McFarland) Hall. He graduated from Huntington Township High School in 1946, where he played basketball and was later inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Following graduation, he entered the United States Army and served as a Cryptographic Technician Fifth Grade for two years. He received the World War II Victory Medal during his time in the service. He worked for Model Engineering in Huntington in the office and as a manager for eight years. He married Melba “MJ” Fritz on March 30, 1952 in Huntington. For 45 years, he was the owner of the Huntington Uptown Tavern. He was an avid golfer, organizing his own golf tournament, the Uptown Open. Basil was a member of Central Christian Church, American Legion Post #7, and Moose Lodge #837, all in Huntington. Besides golfing, he loved sports, especially football and IU basketball. He was famous for finding the largest morel mushrooms in places known only to him and his brothers. Basil is survived by his wife of 62 years - Melba J. Hall of Huntington; one daughter - Sandra (Keston Smith) Guffey of Fort Wayne; one son - David (Bonnie) Hall of Huntington; four grandchildren - Shawn Guffey, Scott Guffey, Kevin Guffey, and Levi Hall; two step-grandchildren - Chris (Amanda) Myers and Sunshine (Jeff) Teusch; and eight great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, one son-in-law - Kenny Guffey, one step-grandson - Dustin Schmalzreid, three brothers - Doyle Hall, Richard Hall, and Noel James Hall, and one sister - Maxine Vogel.

Basil Dean Hall

July 24, 1928 - December 30, 2014