James Russell Halls

WORLD WAR II ARMY VETERAN

James Russell Halls died March 5, 2021 in Lebanon, Ohio.
He leaves behind daughter and son-in-law Jean and Timothy Muetzel, grandchildren James, Eryn, and Alex Muetzel, nephews and nieces Bob and Priscilla Austin, Carl Austin, Kathy Tang, Jennie and Al Sacca, great nieces and nephews Elizabeth Peterson and Victor Resendiz, Dr. Edwin and Amanda Austin, great-great niece Natalie Peterson, and dear friends the Seifert, Collier and Foster families. He is preceded in death by his wife Christine Taylor Alexander Anderson Halls and dear friend Bettye Blakley.

The son of James Russell Halls and Jennie Belle Stiver, he was born March 3, 1920 in Youngstown, Ohio. He graduated from Youngstown South High School where he excelled in football, basketball and tennis. A 1947 graduate of Mount Union College, he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and participated in varsity football and tennis. February 6, 1943, he married his late wife, also a graduate of Mount Union. Drafted in October 1941, he served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in the Signal Corps, Military Police, and Infantry. Landing on Utah Beach on July 4, 1944, he received a Purple Heart in the Normandy Campaign.

After college graduation, James and Christine wife moved back to the Cleveland, Ohio area living in Wickliffe and forty years in Pepper Pike, Ohio. For 50 years, he was a stockbroker and Security Analyst for Hayden Miller, his own firm Halls & Co, First Columbus, and finally Edward Jones from 1973-2002. A proud alumnus of Mount Union, he was a member of the "M" Club at Mount Union and was awarded the Alumni Service Award.
In June 2002, he and his wife moved to the Otterbein Senior Life in Lebanon, Ohio.

He was a member of the Cincinnati Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and the General Society of Mayflower Society. Wonderful father, grandfather, uncle and friend who graced our lives with his kindness, his stock market expertise, his sportsmanship, his love, and his card playing skills.

Memorials may be sent to The University of Mount Union, Athletic Dept., "M" Club
1972 Clark Avenue, Alliance, OH 44601. No flowers; a private service will be held.

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