Alton Cargile Hall Jr.

Alton Cargile Hall, Jr., age 90, of Sarasota, Florida, and formerly of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away on Monday, July 30, 2018 at his residence.

Alton was born on August 31, 1927, to Alton Cargile Hall, Sr. and Sally Kirkland Hall, in Lexington County, South Carolina. He graduated from Ridge Spring School in Batesburg, South Carolina. He was raised on a farm, and began plowing the family garden at the young age of 12. This instilled in him a love of farming that he never outgrew or left behind. He enjoyed gardening and always had at least a small farm for the rest of his life, still riding his tractor at 87 years of age.

He enlisted in the United States Navy at the young age of 17, and shortly thereafter found himself in the South Pacific, near Okinawa, Japan, on the destroyer, The John C. Calhoun. He also served during the Korean War, with a total of 23 years of service in the U. S. Navy. He was a strong man, and brave, being willing to leave the farm of his youth, in order to proudly serve the country he loved. He also was a member of the American Legion Herbert Griffin Post 19 in Columbia.

After his retirement from the Navy, Alton began a second career with Mobile Chemical Company. They transferred him to Maury County, Tennessee to work in the plant that eventually became known as Rhône-Poulenc. He was a plant supervisor until his retirement.

He was a member of Parkway Baptist Church, never missing a Sunday service, until his wife’s illness. He loved to fish, especially on the Tennessee River, where he and his wife, Betty had a campsite. Johnny Cash was his favorite musical artist. He was a true patriot who loved his country, and following its politics was a favorite hobby. He was an avid Trump supporter and Republican.

Alton is survived by his children: Patricia (Joe) Woodlief, Michelle Simas, Guy (Sherry) Hall, Candace (Dr. Jay) Meyer, and Shane (Stacey) Allen Hall; step-children: Bonnie Moore, Peggy Gidcomb, David Gidcomb, and Freddy Gidcomb; grandchildren: Lacey Lynn, Hannah, Tucker, Jordan, Raegan, Sarah, Sophia, and Sean: great-grandchild: Roman. He was preceded in death by the mother of his children: Dorothy Jean Hall; his second wife, who passed away one month prior to him: Betty Ruth Hall; son: Alton C. Hall, III; daughters: Catherine Pullen and Kitty Hall; and siblings: Frank, Fred, Vernon, Henry, Larry, Margaret, Lorana and Frances.

Funeral services for Mr. Hall will be held on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Williams Funeral Home in Columbia with Bro. Mike Roberts officiating. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens with Military honors will be provided by the United States Navy. The family will visit with friends from 12:00 p.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Columbia.

Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family and condolences may be made at www.williamsfh.com .