William Dorne Hall

WALLA WALLA--William Dorne Hall, 94, passed away Dec. 8 at the Walla Walla Odd Fellows Home. One of ten children, he was born to John Stanley and Lillian Corkrum Hall in Springbank, Alberta, Canada, on Nov. 15, 1924. Following the death of his father, the family moved to Union Gap, WA. Dorne then lived with his aunt and uncle, Frank and Lulu Zuger, in Waitsburg. He was a 1943 graduate of Waitsburg High School.

Dorne enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Makassar Strait in the South Pacific. Following his military service, he returned to Waitsburg to farm with his uncle. He married Dorothy Gagnon on April 15, 1951.

He attended Perry Trade School in Yakima, receiving a certificate in machining. In 1956, Dorne and Dorothy, along with their two daughters, moved to Seattle, where Dorne began a 34-year career with the Boeing Company as a precision machinist. Some of his work included parts for the SST and Minuteman Missiles. Upon his retirement in 1990, Dorne and Dorothy moved to Walla Walla to be near family. He was a very loving husband, father and grandfather, always willing to give a helping hand to others. He enjoyed traveling in their fifth-wheel trailer, but especially delighted in the many fishing trips to Seiku. Dorne was an avid gardener and loved sharing his garden’s bounty with friends and neighbors.

Dorne was a member of St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Frenchtown Foundation, and a 75-year member of the Waitsburg American Legion Post 35.

He is survived by his wife, daughters Theresa Ferguson (Rick) and Sharon Richter (John), siblings Muffy Brownell, Vance Hall, Lorraine Fulkerson, Fane Lytton and Dale Hall, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A Rosary will be held Dec. 27, 5 p.m., at St Mark’s Catholic Church, 405 W. 5th, St. Waitsburg.

Funeral services will be Dec. 28, 10 a.m., at St. Mark’s Church. Graveside service will follow.

Memorial donations may be made to the Waitsburg Veterans Memorial Wall or a charity of your choice, in care of the funeral home. Arrangements are in care of Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St, Walla Walla, WA 99362.