Obituary for Emma Lou Waddell Hall
Emma Lou, 93, passed away on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 following an extended illness. She was born in Girard, TX on March 11, 1927 to Clarence and Lillian (George) Phipps. She met Norris Waddell while they were on a double date with other people and it was love at first sight. Norris later asked her out and the rest is history. Norris entered the Army in March of 1943 and Emma Lou graduated Girard High School in May and worked as a ‘Rosie the Riveter’ at San Antonio Ordnance Center in Texas while waiting for the war to be over. Norris came home from Europe after serving in the Combat Engineering Company in France, Belgium, and Germany in December 1945 where he promptly called the Phipps neighbor to tell Emma Lou he was coming to see her. His older brother who owned the local Ford dealership loaned him a new car for the trip where she ran from the house to meet him. They were later married on February 14th, 1946 in the Phipps living room in Girard.
Upon starting their own home, Norris and Emma Lou moved to Abilene Texas staying close to both of their families and it was here that she gave birth to her son Roger in 1947. In 1948 Norris found work at Tinker Field and moved the family to OKC. Emma Lou worked a short while in the mid 1960’s at Farmers Union Insurance Company in OKC but her real calling was caring for others and making a home for husband and son. Emma Lou was an excellent cook and home maker who often hosted family and holiday dinners at their home throughout the years. So many wonderful memories surrounded the meals she prepared, which if you were lucky, included enchiladas, brown beans, rice, cast-iron cornbread, and coconut cream pie. Emma Lou was a faithful follower of Jesus who actively served at Shartel Church of God in a variety of roles during her life. She enjoyed the blessings of this life even as kidney disease took Norris early and he went to be with the Lord in 1984.
In the following years she was able to find love a second time here at Shartel after meeting and then marrying Hillard Hall. Emma Lou and Hillard enjoyed a joyful happy life that was filled with travel to see family and friends. They had over 10 loving years together until he too went to be with the Lord in 2000.
She spent the rest of her years serving the Lord, enjoying time with her family, and making friends while living at Grace Pointe. She was a steadfast Christian, a loving caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and a precious friend to all those who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her:
First Husband Norris Waddell and Second Husband Hillard Hall,
Parents Clarence and Lillian Phipps,
Siblings Ruth Ward, Melvin Phipps, Grace Fincher, Sybel Barton, and Clifford Phipps.
Emma Lou is survived by her:
Son Roger and wife Nancy Waddell,
Grandson Brian and wife Ginna Waddell,
Great-Granddaughters Kadie and Paige Waddell,
Sisters Verda Armes and Anna Hunnicutt, and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great, great nieces and nephews being too many to mention by name.
Upon starting their own home, Norris and Emma Lou moved to Abilene Texas staying close to both of their families and it was here that she gave birth to her son Roger in 1947. In 1948 Norris found work at Tinker Field and moved the family to OKC. Emma Lou worked a short while in the mid 1960’s at Farmers Union Insurance Company in OKC but her real calling was caring for others and making a home for husband and son. Emma Lou was an excellent cook and home maker who often hosted family and holiday dinners at their home throughout the years. So many wonderful memories surrounded the meals she prepared, which if you were lucky, included enchiladas, brown beans, rice, cast-iron cornbread, and coconut cream pie. Emma Lou was a faithful follower of Jesus who actively served at Shartel Church of God in a variety of roles during her life. She enjoyed the blessings of this life even as kidney disease took Norris early and he went to be with the Lord in 1984.
In the following years she was able to find love a second time here at Shartel after meeting and then marrying Hillard Hall. Emma Lou and Hillard enjoyed a joyful happy life that was filled with travel to see family and friends. They had over 10 loving years together until he too went to be with the Lord in 2000.
She spent the rest of her years serving the Lord, enjoying time with her family, and making friends while living at Grace Pointe. She was a steadfast Christian, a loving caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and a precious friend to all those who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her:
First Husband Norris Waddell and Second Husband Hillard Hall,
Parents Clarence and Lillian Phipps,
Siblings Ruth Ward, Melvin Phipps, Grace Fincher, Sybel Barton, and Clifford Phipps.
Emma Lou is survived by her:
Son Roger and wife Nancy Waddell,
Grandson Brian and wife Ginna Waddell,
Great-Granddaughters Kadie and Paige Waddell,
Sisters Verda Armes and Anna Hunnicutt, and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great, great nieces and nephews being too many to mention by name.