Owen V. Hall, age 86, Celina, died on the morning of April 18, 2016, at Otterbein Retirement Home. He was born on June 10, 1929, to Vaughn E. and Lois (Elder) Hall, both of whom are deceased.

On October 17, 1948, he married Madonna Harner, who survives in St. Marys.

Also surviving are three children, Jonathan (Kris) Hall of Celina, Jerry (Karla) Hall of Columbus, and Janette Hall of Dallas, Texas, and three grandchildren, Michael (Elsie) of Richmond, VA, Nicholas (Kaitlin) of Hilliard, Ohio, and Andrew (Laura) of New Albany, Ohio, and six great grandchildren. A sister, Ruthann (Eldon) Eichenauer, survives along with nieces and nephews.

He was a graduate of Neptune High School, Class of 1947. He was a partner with his father in Vaughn Hall & Son Dealers in Livestock. He began his real estate career in 1947, associated first with Dolan Purdy and then with Mary Hale Real Estate. In 1953 he entered a long-term sales relationship with Paul Kessler of Kessler Builders and Yorkshire Developers. From 1953-1963 he was partners with his father and Don Montgomery in Western Ohio Livestock Exchange, an auction barn in Montezuma. He continued his auction career until retirement, having been a partner with Bill Stinebaugh, Lloyd (Red) Kuck, and then with his son, Jon, and Larry Keller in Owen Hall Auctioneers. He served as the only two-term president of the Ohio Auctioneers Association, where he was a member of the Ohio Auctioneers' Hall of Fame. Over 40 years ago, he helped established the Immaculate Conception Church Auction, an annual Celina summer event, that he continued to conduct until his retirement.

Hall founded his real estate company, Owen Hall and Associates, Inc., Realtors Auctioneers, that became the leading realty company in Mercer County. The company was sold at his retirement and is now known as Hall Realty. Hall was a member and past president of the former Auglaize Mercer Board of Realtors and a member and past president of the Ohio Association of Realtors, receiving the prestigious Realtor of the Year Award and the Vincent T. Aveni Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, he served as national president of the Farm and Land Realtors, and was honored with the Distinguished Service Award, the highest award given by the National Association of Realtors in 1993. He served as a lifetime director of both the Ohio and National Associations of Realtors. He was appointed by the governor to the Ohio Real Estate Commission, which oversees enforcement of Ohio real estate laws, and served from 1992-2007, acting as president for 11 years.

Being active in politics from an early age, Hall was a member of the Mercer County Republican Central and Executive Committees for many years and was elected chair for many terms. He served as a director of the former Citizens Commercial Bank until mandatory retirement at age 70. The Celina Combined Services Appeal was a community project that he enjoyed working for as a member, trustee, and officer for over 25 years. He was awarded the Celina Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1988 and was the Celina Lake Festival Grand Marshal in 2009. He announced Celina football games for many years and was a supporter of the Celina Athletic Booster Club, attending basketball and football games whenever possible. The HAlliday basketball tournament was sponsored by Owen Hall & Associates for many years.

Hall was a 60-year member of the Mercer Lodge No. 121 Free and Accepted Masons, Valley of Dayton Scottish Rite, and Antioch Temple Shrine. He was a 68-year member and past president of the Celina Lions Club. He loved working on Lions' projects such as the old minstrel shows in the 1950s and barbecues in later years. He was also a member of the Mercer County Sportsmen's Association.

He was very active in his church. During his teen years, he was the president of the Ohio Churches of God Youth Advance while attending the former Neptune Church of God. He worked to promote the purchase of Camp Otyokwah, the Ohio Churches of God youth camp and retreat center. He was also instrumental in planning for the construction of a new church building in Neptune, after a fire destroyed the original church.

In later years he became a member of the Celina First Church of God and was president of the church council. He was involved in cross cultural missions programs for the Churches of God, General Conference, traveling to Haiti and providing tuition for Haitian children.

Spending time with his family filled his life with purpose and joy.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Celina First Church of God, 850 Fairground Road, Celina, on April 30, 2016, at 11 a.m.

The family will receive family and friends at the church from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to Camp Otyokwah. Please send to 3380 Tugend Road, Butler, Ohio 44822.