Hal Skipper

Lt. Col. Hal Roache Skipper, 81, passed from this life on Saturday, October 17 at his home in Grove Hill. Mr. Skipper was a lifelong resident of Clarke County, having been raised on a farm in Zimco, Alabama, later residing in Grove Hill for the remainder of his life. He spent the majority of his adult life in service to the community of Grove Hill and also to the state of Alabama as a soldier in the Alabama National Guard. While in the National Guard, Mr. Skipper rose through the ranks to Commander for the Grove Hill Company, and later served in units in Mobile, Birmingham, and Opelika. His 41 years of service in the National Guard afforded him the opportunity to train in numerous locations, including Panama and Germany. He retired from military service as Lieutenant Colonel.




Mr. Skipper was the manager of Grove Hill Telephone Company for over twenty years, where he befriended most everyone in the community. He served as both Town Councilman and Mayor for nine years in Grove Hill. Mr. Skipper's leadership was instrumental in the developing and building of Grove Hill Memorial Hospital, Grove Hill Town Hall, Grove Hill City Park, and Camp Maubila for the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Skipper's lifetime of service also included his dedication to Grove Hill Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and was involved in many church-building mission trips.




Mr. Skipper is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Jean Harrison Skipper; children, Neena Skipper McNeely (Basil) of Mobile, AL, Scott Skipper (Gina) of Grove Hill, AL and Barry Skipper (Mary) of Louisville, KY; sisters, Catherine McIlwain (Bob) of Pascagoula, MS and Patricia Grubbs of Fairhope, AL; grandchildren, Isaac McNeely (Amie) of Bryan, TX, Lindsey McNeely Ladnier (Samuel) of Denver, CO, Abbey McNeely of Mobile, AL, Cory Skipper (Janine) of Hoover, AL and Jessica Skipper of Louisville, KY.




Services will be Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at Grove Hill Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm with the funeral service beginning at 3:00 pm. Bro. Tony Meinhardt will officiate. Interment will follow in Magnolia Lawn Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.lathanfuneralhomegrovehill.com.




Pallbearers for Mr. Skipper will be Louis Burgos, Clay Dickinson, Matt Harrison, son-in-law Basil McNeely, and his two grandsons, Isaac McNeely and Cory Skipper.




ARRANGEMENTS BY LATHAN FUNERAL HOME IN GROVE HILL, ALABAMA