Arlene Stevens Hall, 98, died early Thursday, January 20, 2022 after a brief illness.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Dr. Kenneth F. Hall. She is survived by two sons: Rick (wife Judi) Hall and Doug (wife Marla) Hall, all of Anderson; and five grandchildren: Kaedra Clark (husband Marcus) and great-grandaughter, Kylin, of Greenwood; Connor Hall (wife Becca Peach) of Seattle Washington; RuthAnn Lane (husband Harrison) and great-grandchildren Hopelyn, Edwin, and Wayland of Arcadia; Jon Hall of Anderson; and Rachel Yves (wife Courtney) of Ellsworth, Maine.
Arlene was born in Kendall, New York, on November 7, 1923 to Marhlon and Edna Hughes Stevens, and as an only child, she was raised primarily by her mother. She met her future husband, Ken Hall (also an only child) at Anderson College. They married in 1949, and the pair made many cherished friends and acquaintances with whom they built a lifelong family. Many of these were fellow members of the Companero Club and Quest Group at Park Place Church of God.
With a passion for and a call to Christian Education, Arlene focused on the written word. She worked as Children's Editor for Warner Press and wrote several works for children, most notably the Egermeier's Bible Story Book, which she extensively revised. Arlene earned a Master's Degree in Religious Education from Scarritt College in 1949 and was eventually ordained into the ministry in 1975. For over a decade, she worked as one of the editors of "Pathways to God" and served as the Minister of Christian Education at Park Place Church of God for 24 years.
Her other roles included Director of Elder Campus at Anderson University, Leader with the Single and Retirees Fellowship and Leader for Life Enrichment at Park Place. In 2014, Anderson University bestowed the Honorary Doctorate of Divinity on both Ken and Arlene.
Arlene Hall didn't particularly desire the title of "Reverend," but her dedication to God included fervent prayer and faithful correspondence with many people for their encouragement. She and Ken loved to read, and they travelled extensively with their group of friends to various destinations, including Europe and Asia. Both were generous grandparents and delighted in the arrival and milestones of their great-grandchildren.
In recent years, Ken and Arlene resided at Primrose Memory Care, and the family wishes to express their gratitude for the attentive care they received there, especially during the COVID crisis. Despite visitation limits, Arlene maintained a positive, reminding us that an only child knows how to be alone--so long as she has a relationship with God and books to read!
Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service has made arrangements for funeral services on Saturday, January 29, 2022. Loved ones may call for visitation 9:30-11:00 am on Saturday, at Park Place Church of God. Pastor Jonathan Grubbs will lead the service in celebration of Arlene's life at 11:00 am, followed by a private interment at Maplewood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Park Place Children's Center Scholarship Fund.
Post online condolences at www.rozelle-johnson.com.