Obituary for Barbara Doane Hall

Barbara Doane Hall died on January 25, 2013, at Deerfield Retirement Community, Urbandale, Iowa where she and her husband have lived since 2008. Prior to that, they had lived in Batavia, Illinois for many years. Barbara was born on November 24, 1927 in Aurora, Illinois to James A. and Marian (Hartman) Doane. She met William D. (Bill) Hall on a flight from Kansas City to Chicago, and on May 4, 1957 they were married at the New England Congregational Church in Aurora. Barbara is survived by her husband of more than 55 years, a daughter Laurie (Joel) Smallwood of Eugene, Oregon, a son Thomas D. Hall of Batavia, a son James Alexander (Mary) Hall of Minnetonka, Minnesota, a son Andrew D. (Julie) Hall of Des Moines, Iowa, a granddaughter Kristina Hoover of California, grandchildren Andrew, Rachel, Anna, and Isabel Hall of Minnetonka, grandchildren Marian and Nicholas Hall of Des Moines, a great-granddaughter Alexa Laharty of Portland, Oregon, and nieces Lisa Doane, Jennifer Doane, and Amy Doane Waltz. Barbara''s parents and her brother, Kent Doane preceded her in death. Barbara graduated with an English major from Northern Illinois University. Previously she had attended the University of New Mexico, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and Aurora University. Although she loved foreign travel, especially after Bill''s transfer took them to London, England for three years in the early 1970''s, Barbara''s favorite places to visit were probably Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico. She had come to love that area when she attended the University of New Mexico back in the 1940''s. Barbara was a faithful volunteer, first at Children''s Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, where Bill''s transfer in 1957 took them for six years, and after their return to the Chicago area, at the former Community Hospital in Geneva, Illinois, and then at Fox Valley Hospice. She also volunteered regularly at the Batavia Depot Museum. With her many interests and her zest for life, Barbara will be sorely missed by her family and her many friends. The family wishes to thank the staff at Deerfield for their care of Barbara during almost five years and Iowa Health Hospice for its help during the last weeks. In accordance with her wishes, she has been cremated. At a date to be determined, her remains will be interred in the Batavia West Side Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be directed to the Batavia Historical Society, the Deerfield Foundation or a charity of the donor''s choice.