Commander Allen Eugene "Gene" Hall, Retired, US Navy

Commander Allen Eugene “Gene” Hall, Retired, US Navy

Allen Eugene “Gene” Hall, 82, of Orange Park Florida and Woodruff, husband of Dianne Rae Hall, who resides in their Orange Park, Florida home passed away Monday, February 13, 2023, at his Woodruff Home.

  Born November 21, 1940, in Woodruff, he was a son of the late John Hall and Fannie Potts Hall. He was first married to the late Patricia Ann Nix Hall who passed away February 12, 2008. He was a United States Navy veteran where he served two tours in Vietnam.  Gene left high school and enlisted in the US Navy on Valentine’s Day 1958 where he later earned his high school diploma along with an AS degree in Management and a BS in Education during the 34 years and 3 months, he served on active duty rising through the ranks of SCPO, CWO, and Limited Duty Officer where he retired as a Commander on 1 May 1992.  During his career he served in many air squadrons and in several aircraft carriers.  He also served on type wing and type commander staffs.  Gene was awarded numerous unit, service, and personal decorations during his Navy Career.

  Commander Hall was elected to the office of State Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Florida in June of 2004 at the 74th annual convention in Orlando, Florida.  Gene originally joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Jacksonville, Florida Post 7909 in 1979 and has maintained his membership there since his return from Australia in 1983.  During his tenure, Gene has held many positions of Post Commander from 1993 to 1995, Post Quartermaster 1995 to 2003, District Commander 1997 to 1998 and was elected State Surgeon in 2001.  Gene has also held many State and National Appointments in the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

  Surviving is his daughter, Teresa Apperson (Bill) of Belize; sons, Duane Hall (Ellen) of Leesville, SC, Michael Hall (Stacy) of Keller, TX, stepdaughter, Janyse Heidy (Gregg) of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; stepson, Brent Bowyer (Kelly) of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; 9 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren and 3 step-great-grandchildren.

  In addition to his parents and first wife, he was predeceased by siblings, Dewey Hall, Zonie Hall McMahan, Herbert Hall, Henry Hall, Hubert Hall and half-siblings, Ernest Jones, Dillard Jones, Henley Jones, Annie Mae Simmons and Willie Mae Knight.

  The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Lanford-Gwinn Mortuary, 257 North Main Street Woodruff, SC. Funeral services will follow at 12:30 p.m. in the chapel of Lanford-Gwinn Mortuary with Reverend Carroll Caldwell officiating. Burial will follow with Military Honors in Graceland East Memorial Park with a committal by Pastor Patti Sue Burton-Pye.

  Family members are at their respective homes.

Lanford-Gwinn Mortuary

Woodruff, SC.