Ernest Henry Hall, 86

MILTON - Ernest Henry Hall of Milton, died Wednesday, March 26, 2008, in Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital. He was 86.

Mr. Hall was born in Wilmington, on Dec. 15, 1921, one of eight children of the late Matthew Hall and Eunice L. Sterndale Hall.

He grew up in Hillcrest, at Penny Hill.

Mr. Hall attended P.S. duPont and H. Fletcher Brown High Schools.

Following the untimely death of his father, he began his working career at Delaware Tool Steel on Market Street, Wilmington, at 30 cents per hour to contribute to the support of his mother, brothers and sisters.

He then worked at Westinghouse for 40 years and 3 months as a machinist and at one time worked on parts for the first nuclear submarine.

Mr. Hall served in the U.S. Navy as a gunner's mate during World War II.

He married Margaretta Naomi Greegs on May 6, 1944. They raised six children in Claymont before moving to Milton upon his retirement.

There he continued to enjoy his lifelong love of hunting, fishing, gardening, birds and wildlife.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years, Peggy who died on Jan. 23, 2005; his first grandson in 1993; his brothers, Roger and Urban; and sisters, Eunice and Dorothy.

He is survived by six children, William M. Hall and his wife Nancy of Ocean View, Linda L. Zimmerman and her husband Ed of Denton, Md., Ernest H. Hall Jr. and his wife Donna of Wilmington, James E. Hall and his wife Maria of Laurel, Kathleen K, Hansen of Wilmington, and Steven A. Hall and his wife Cindy of Monroe N.C.; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; brothers, David G. Hall and his wife Erminie of Chestertown, Md., and Nathan Hall and his wife Eleanor of West Lake Village, Calif.; and his sister, Nancy Conner and her husband Al of Wilmington.

A funeral service will be held at a later date.

Gifts in his memory may be made to the American Lung Assoc., 1021 Gilpin Ave. Suite 202, Wilmington, DE 19806; or the Friends of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, 11978 Turkle Pond Rd. Milton, DE 19968.

Arrangements handled by Short Funeral Services, Milton.