Lou Ann Benson (Benson) Hall

Ann Benson Hall, 96, died peacefully in her home at Asbury Methodist Village, Kindley Assisted Living, Gaithersburg, MD on Friday, September 20, 2019.

 
   Lou Ann (“Ann”) Benson was born on September 5, 1923 to the late Joe Pope Benson and Marie (Margrave) Benson in Herrin, IL. She graduated from Robinson Township High School, Robinson, IL in 1941. Ann attended the University of Illinois (Urbana- Champaign) where she earned an AB in English with a minor in French in 1945, followed by a MA in English in 1948. As an undergraduate, Ann belonged to Chi Omega sorority and recently received recognition for 75 years of membership. She was also a member of the U of I chapters of Mortar Board and MaWanDa, senior honor societies.
Mrs. Hall was an English teacher during her career, including positions at Woodstock High School, Woodstock, IL, Hunter College High School, New York, NY, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, IN and both Walt Whitman and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High Schools, Bethesda, MD.
   Married 65 years to Rev. Dr. Arthur R. Hall Jr. a Presbyterian minister, they lived in New York, NY, Monmouth, IL, Louisville, KY and Bethesda, MD then retired to Gaithersburg, MD. Throughout her life, Ann was actively involved in a variety of volunteer opportunities with her church and community. These included the Women’s Association at Central Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY and at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, MD. At Bradley Hills, she also participated in ministries at Grimke School, Washington, D.C., at Bethesda HELP and with the church youth group. After retirement, Ann and Art both volunteered at NIH, Bethesda, MD.
Mrs. Hall loved reading, travel and playing bridge. She had a passion for the English language especially grammar, puns and literature, as well as enjoying many book groups. Ann traveled extensively with her family throughout the United States (49), Europe, Kenya, Australia and New Zealand. In particular, the family frequented the favorite destination of Ghost Ranch Conference Center (Presbyterian Church USA) in Abiquiu, NM. She also had a great fondness for cats and had a pet cat most of her life.
   Ann Hall was the loving and devoted mother of Janet Hall Graff (A. Steven), Falls Church, VA, Laura Hall Abell (Michael), Mount Vernon, OH and Nancy Hall Berens (Thomas), Alexandria, VA, grandmother of Geoffrey Graff (Shalini Low-Nam), Hannah Graff (Nicholas Berry), Dylan Scott (Lauren Campanella Scott), Ethan Abell and Anne- Marie Berens and great-grandmother of Emily Berry and Theodore Scott. Also surviving is her cousin, Joyce Ann Kean Dannenbrink, who was like a sister to her. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Arthur Hall and her son-in-law, Rick Scott.
  A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 4, 2020, 2:00 p.m. at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, MD. A graveside burial and short service will be on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at East Lynn Cemetery just south of East Lynn, IL. The family will meet at Kruger-Coan-Pape Funeral Home at 1pm for a procession.
 
  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Hall Mission Fund at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, 6601 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20817. Messages and memories may be left on our website at www.KrugerCoanPape.com, or on the Kruger-Coan-Pape Funeral Home Facebook page.

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