Roll Call Tribute

Phillips Carver "Phil" Hall 

October 24, 1931 - August 30, 2023 

Phil never met a stranger. His contagious personality endeared him to people all over the world. He engaged with strangers every day and loved discovering their stories. He found common ground with everyone and formed a bond of love with all, right through to his final days. That was one of his many special gifts.

His late-stage, lung cancer diagnosis in April 2022, came as a total surprise to Ol Phil and all who knew him…Phil’s disciplined, healthy lifestyle, kept him from ever smoking. Family and friends were blessed to spend good times with Phil for a further 16 months prior to his peaceful passing on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

Born October 24, 1931, in Tulsa, OK, to George Carver and Mary Bluford Hall, Phil was the eldest of two sons. Following the untimely death of their father, when the boys were merely 5 years and 6 months old, Phil and his brother, Gary, were raised by their loving mother, his paternal grandmother and various extended family members.

Through sheer determination and family support, Phil worked his way through high school and university, fully participating in Tulsa University’s KA fraternity’s social and charitable activities, as well as serving in the on-campus ROTC, while earning his BS in Petroleum Engineering. Shortly thereafter, he was called to active duty and assigned to serve in the Air Force at South Ruislip Air Force Base in London England. He started as a 2nd Lieutenant and rose to Captain designing, installing, and acceptance-testing hydrant, refueling systems for SAC 7 AC medium and heavy bombers throughout England.

Phil’s overseas assignment prompted him to bring forward his plans to propose to his college sweetheart, Karol Jean Welsh and to marry her during leave in Tulsa in October 1954. Karol joined Phil in London shortly thereafter and the couple welcomed the first of three children and their only son, Phillips Marklyn, in July 1956.

Following his honorable discharge from service, the family settled in Healdton, Oklahoma where Phil joined Magnolia Petroleum as a junior reservoir engineer. He took leave of absence to enroll in Texas A&M University in September 1957 where he received a Master’s Degree in Petroleum Reservoir Engineering.

It was during this time that the family expanded to include daughter, Jana Karol, in June 1958 before returning to Tulsa where Phil joined Jersey Production Research Company, a subsidiary of Esso which is now Exxon Mobil. His first of many international career transfers was to Benghazi, Libya in 1963, where daughter, Kary Lynna was born.

Subsequent transfers included Tripoli Libya, Houston Texas, Sydney Australia, London England, New York City, and back to Houston, where he retired in 1992. Two years later, Phil and Karol moved to Sun City West outside Phoenix. Sadly, the couple parted ways in 1999.

Phil remained in Sun City West, enjoying his retirement and the community, playing golf, working out at the gym, singing at Karaoke and in the church choir, playing softball, volunteering for The Prides, and hiking the desert hills with friends.

Next in line for Phil was a relocation to Springfield, MO, where, in March of 2006, he married Barbara Cook Hall. He quickly immersed himself in life with Barbara, his extended family and friends, church, lake house respites, symphony, opera and MSU Lady Bears Basketball. It was during this time that Phil coined his commonly repeated phrase “Life isn’t just good-It’s Great” and his often-heard hail “Oi”, which was always said at a level several decibels too many!

Phil rejoiced in this move and his ‘new’ life and considered Springfield a return to his Midwest roots. He particularly enjoyed spending time with family and friends throughout the area and occasionally in Tulsa where he kept in touch with relatives and schoolmates.

He loved meeting people and was known to reach out to strangers and fellow diners, especially youngsters. His fellow gym mates at Meyer Center soon grew to expect the unexpected from Phil whose renewed passion for living life to the fullest, meant he felt compelled to share his joy through fun quips and laughter.

Phil and Barbara were rarely idle, keeping a busy social and travel schedule that would tire people half their ages. They enjoyed travelling around the US including annual escapes to Florida, cruising Alaska, visits to California and Texas, Las Vegas, Arkansas, Atlanta and various Nascar racetracks. They were not afraid to travel overseas and spent time together exploring Australia, Scotland, and England.

Phil is survived by his wife, Barbara Cook Hall, his three children and their spouses Phillips Marklin and Marilyn Joyce Hall, Jana Karol and Graham Leigh Pickles, and Kary Lynna and John Rankin Crouch; his grandchildren Phillip Cody Welty, Gavin Marklin Hall, Clinton Tyler Welty, Shelby Rae Hall, Kristin Marie Hymel and her husband John Alexander Hymel; his extended family and their spouses including James Gregory and Dana (Peterson) Hall, Janna Rae Hall, James Zachary and Amber (Reed) Hall, Jared Ray and Leanne (Roy) Hall, Michael Dalton and Hailey (Mills) Hall and Andrew James and Dana (Garrison) Rademacher; and six great grandchildren. He loved them all and cherished each moment spent together.

Services will be held at First & Calvary Presbyterian Church located at 820 E. Cherry St., Springfield, Missouri beginning with visitation at 10am followed by funeral at 11am on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.