Betty Watson Hall, 95, a long-time resident of Morgantown, passed away of natural causes at her home in Pasadena, Calif., on Dec. 31, 2020. She was born July 11, 1925, in Thomas, to Fred John Watson and Sallie DeLaughter Watson. She grew up in a single-parent household after her father was killed in a mining accident when she was an infant. After graduation from Thomas High School, Betty enrolled at West Virginia University where she obtained B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry. It was there she met her future husband, Professor of Chemistry James L. Hall. Together they raised three sons, James “Jay,” of Raleigh, N.C., John, of Altadena, Calif., and Thomas “Tom,” of Davis. All three are graduates of Morgantown High School and West Virginia University.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband. In addition to her sons, she is survived by daughters-in-law, Margaret Moats Hall, Nancy Lan and Cindy Helmick Hall; grandchildren, Megan Hall, of Raleigh, N.C., Galen Hall, of New York City, Adrienne Helmick, of Biloxi, Miss., Audrey Hall, of Baton Rouge, La., Keegan Hall, of Shinnston, and Wyatt Hall, of Davis; and five great-grandchildren.
Betty was a wonderful and caring wife, mother and community member, and the family attended First Christian Church in Morgantown. She enjoyed hiking the trails of West Virginia with her husband, gardening, photography, playing the piano, reading, travelling to other states and countries and, in her later years, painting. She especially enjoyed doting on her grandchildren.
Betty has been interred at Rose Hill Cemetery in Thomas alongside her husband and parents. Donations may be made to any organization dedicated to preserving nature in West Virginia.
