Rozell Broos Hall, 84, an 18-year resident of Josephine and Pirate’s Cove, died Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at his daughter’s home in Houston.
Broos, as he was known to his friends, was battling terminal congestive heart failure, was under hospice care in his daughter’s home, and died quickly and peacefully, with God and loved ones nearby.
He served with the Army Air Force in World War II. He completed pilot training and was commissioned in 1943, thereafter flying medium bombers with the 416th Bomber Group of the 9th Air Force in the European Theatre. He flew 60 combat missions over Europe and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Silver Star. Returning to Mobile after the war, he became one of the first pilots with the new Waterman Airlines at Bates Field. In 1947 when Waterman Airlines was merged with Central America’s TACA Airline he joined TACA and flew with that airline for 30 years.
He lived the majority of his life in New Orleans during his career with TACA Airlines. New Orleans is where he raised his family. He was an avid fisherman and was involved in humanitarian acitivities such as the “Auto Angel” a free roadside assistance program and auto advice radio show.
Upon retiring, he spent two years in Gatlinberg, Tenn., as a successful shop owner, custom knife-maker and designer. He and his wife Dorothy then discovered the Josephine area, built a home a settled there. He quickly became involved in the community as the Josephine VFD Fire Chief. As of late 2006, he was recently retired chair of the Perdido Bay Water Board and an active deacon in the Josephine Baptist Church. He loved his life in Josephine and the Elberta area and was still mourning his wife, Dorothy of 62 years who died in late 2005.
Besides being preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, he was preceded by his parents, Dorothy Annie Naugle and Irvin Columbus Hall, his stepfather, Felix Naugle, two sisters, Mildred Gross, and Jewelle Bickham, and son-in-law, Noel Allan Conrad, and his forever faithful friend and loyal dog, “C.J.”
Survivors include three daughters, Linda Hall Conrad and Sharon St. Amant, both currently of Marshfield, Mo., and Deborah Hall Sellers of Houston; brother, Robert Naugle of Fairfield, Texas, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held mid-summer at Josephine Baptist church. Hall opted for anatomical gifting to BioGift of Portland, Ore., for the purposes of medical teaching and research. His remains will be cremated and returned in subsequent weeks. Memorial service date and time will be determined in the upcoming weeks and details can be furnished by his daughter, Deborah Sellers in Houston. Contact Josephine Baptist church for her contact information.
Instead of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Josephine Baptist Church Hall Memorial Building Fund, P.O. Box 247, Josephine, AL 36530.
