A Celebration of Life for James Houston Hall, 83, of Ruston, LA will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Temple Baptist Church Chapel in Ruston, LA. Officiating the service will be Dr. Reggie Bridges assisted by Pastor Bobby Joe Douglas. Interment will follow at Kilpatrick Memorial Gardens in Ruston, LA under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes.
A visitation for family and friends will begin at 10:00 am until service time at Temple Baptist Church Chapel.
Jim was born in Ruston, LA on October 13, 1942, and passed away on October 11, 2026, at his residence. Although born in Ruston he was reared in Junction City, AR. After graduating from Junction City High School, he attended LA Tech University where he graduated with a B.S. Degree in Business.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Houston Hall and Genesse Scriber Hall.
Jim is survived by his wife of 64 years Margaret Hall of Ruston; son, Dr. Todd Hall and wife Stacey Blaylock Hall of Oxford, MS; 3 grandchildren Laura Patterson and husband John Craig of Hernando, MS; Amanda Pendegraft and husband Brandon of Huntsville, AL; Maggie Fugate and husband Patrick of Bolzano, Italy. Great grandchildren include Cate, Collins, Anna Craig, and Cori Jane Patterson; Ginny, Mae, and Archie Pendegraft; Douglas, Malcolm and Robbie Fugate. Jim has one sister, Sue Tompkins and nephew John Tompkins of Ruston; and niece Susann McMahan of Shreveport.
Jim had a long career (48 yrs) in banking and finance that began in 1964 until his retirement in 2013. His financial advice and service helped untold numbers of friends and customers.
Although an excellent athlete, his passion became the outdoors and all it had to offer. He was a strong advocate for wildlife and the habitat in which it thrived. He fought and won the battle to save the Ouachita River from channelization and to keep it wild and natural. He served on the LA Wildlife Foundation which secured funds for wildlife research, along with habitat acquisition and management. He was also involved in Ducks Unlimited.
Jim loved hunting and fishing but his greatest passion was quail hunting and his cherished bird dogs. Pointers and setters both. His appreciation for the dogs work, pointing, backing, and retrieving was the subject of conversation and pride in many hunting recollections. He truly had a reverence for it all.
In lieu of flowers please send any planned memorials to Temple Baptist Church, 1515 South Service Road West, Ruston, LA 71270.
