Fred Harris Hall

Fred Harris Hall, 86, of Toledo, Ohio died early on the morning of Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg, having survived kidney cancer for nearly six years.  He was born on February 12, 1931 to Newell Canfield and Lucella May (Randall) Hall in Sylvania, Ohio.  Fred graduated from Sylvania Burnham High School in 1949 where he was a member of the marching band.  Night shift assembly line work during his senior year allowed Fred to help support his family and make enough money to attend barber college after graduation. He earned his Barber’s license in 1950.  While cutting hair and working toward a business degree at Toledo University, Fred took a job as a draftsman at Toledo Edison.  There he met his future wife, Eleanor Wefer.  They were married in the Sylvania Congregational Church on August 30, 1952.  Fred served 7 years in the Naval Reserve. He was honorably discharged as a Quartermaster second class in 1959.  Always looking to better support his family Fred was part of a band that played country, polka, and square dance music at weddings, earning extra income and nurturing his love of music.  Fred played guitar, piano, banjo, bass fiddle, and drums, mostly by ear.  After 14 years owning his own barber shop Fred stopped cutting hair and went to work for F. N. Cuthbert Company. He also operated a home based business selling band candy, sweatshirts and tee shirts to schools and organizations.  In the early 1970’s Fred started the Fred H. Hall Company, first as a manufacturer’s representative and then as an industrial distributor.  At age 65 he sold his business and retired.  Fred was a member of Sylvania United Church of Christ where he served on the Board of Deacons. He also served on the Board of Trustees overseeing the maintenance of the building and grounds. When the new church was built, Fred and other church members did much of the finishing work.  He also participated with Habitat for Humanity builds. He was a member of Sylvania Country Club and Heather Downs Country Club.  He was a member of the Merickel-Farley Trout Club in Swanton.  Fred was also a member of the Black Sheep radio control club, building and flying model planes.   Fred and Eleanor enjoyed traveling and playing golf.  Their trips took them to all parts of the U.S., Europe and the Caribbean.  Fred enjoyed all types of fishing, taking trips out west and to Argentina to test his fly fishing skills.  There were also numerous journeys to remote Canadian lakes.  Loving everything about airplanes, Fred became a recreational pilot, flying a Cessna 172 he owned with three partners.  Fred’s happiest moments were spent in northern Michigan at the family cottage on Black Lake.  There Fred tackled major renovations and improvements and enjoyed puttering in the garage.  He loved to fish and to tell fish stories.  He taught countless friends, family members, and any neighbor kid who cared to try, how to water ski.  Five generations of family have made wonderful memories together there.  Fred was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Dorothy Mothershead, niece Joyce Ratliff and nephew Rick Schultz.  He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Eleanor, daughters Margo (Alan) Leininger, Leslie (Richard) Watza and sister Margaret Schultz.  He was a wonderful grandfather and role model to Andrew and Kevin (Tess) Leininger, Emilie, Joshua, and Miriam Taylor, and great grandfather to Matilda Leininger.  The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Donald Hickey, Dr. Timothy Kasunic, and the home care and in patient staff of Hospice of Northwest Ohio for their compassionate care.  Friends may join the family for visitation at Reeb Funeral Home, 5712 Main St., Sylvania, OH  Sunday, November 19, from 4 – 8 pm.  A celebration of life will be held on Monday, November 20 at noon at Sylvania United Church of Christ, 7240 Erie St., Sylvania.  Following the service family and friends will gather at Sylvania Country Club, 5201 Corey Rd., Sylvania, Ohio.  Burial at Toledo Memorial Park will be private.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Sylvania United Church of Christ, the American Cancer Society, or Hospice of Northwest Ohio.