Elisabeth G. Hall

Mrs. Elisabeth Groeschel Hall, age 94, passed away Thursday, January 9, 2014 at her home in DeFuniak Springs. She was born November 19, 1919 in Garmisch, Germany the daughter of Karl Neff and Anna Groeschel. Once, as a young girl of about ten years old Elisabeth and two other girls had been in the countryside picking flowers and as they made their way back to the roadway to go back to town they were stopped by German soldiers who advised them “the Fuehrer was en route with his entourage to the Olympics” and that the road was closed. As the motorcade approached, Hitler noticed the three girls and ordered the car stopped while he casually chatted with the girls. Educated in Germany during Hitler’s rise to power, Elisabeth was a cosmetician by trade; however when Adoff Hitler became Chancellor he did away with professions he considered “unnecessary” and she was drafted into the German Army, was sent to Poland and then Russia all within five days of being drafted. After protesting that she would not carry a firearm she was sent to work in a field hospital where she served as contact person who notified families of their next of kin’s injuries or death. As the war was drawing to a close, Elisabeth and several of her family were approached by American soldiers inquiring about weapons and ammunition. Her brother-in-law who was a German soldier, injured and in the hospital in France, had an extensive collection of very valuable guns hidden in the crawl space under the balcony. Afraid of lying, they told the Americans where the guns were hidden and they were confiscated. A few days later, another troop of Americans came by inquiring about weapons and one of those men was Henry Sessions Hall, Jr. of DeFuniak Springs, Florida. He was smitten with Elisabeth and returned a few days later with a huge box of food, items that had been rationed for several years because of the war; coffee, butter, sugar and the likes. He told Elisabeth he would return again, however in the meantime, Elisabeth and her cousins prepared and enjoyed food they had not had in several years. Henry did return and said he was ready to enjoy a meal, but to his dismay the food was already eaten. This did not stop him for asking Elisabeth to be his “girl” and his tour of duty ended with the military but he signed on for another four years as a civilian contractor over the officer’s club in Germany. He and Elisabeth were married in Germany during this time. After his contract ended they returned and made their home in the Cluster Springs/Liberty area of North Walton County. Elisabeth was a faithful long time member of Cluster Springs Baptist Church.

Among survivors are her nephew, Hans Kurbeuhn of Germany. Her nephew’s widow, Tolise Huber . Her great nephews, McSween Huber and wife Amanda and Tony Huber and wife Natasha. Her great nieces Julia Walter and husband Patrick and Jackie Cromartie and husband Blake.

Floral arrangments are being accepted. Those asked to serve as pallbearers are James Cecil Hall, Milton Pearson, Bruce Ward, Jamie Hall, Rob Neal, McSween Huber, Tony Huber and Patrick Walter. A time of visitation will be one hour prior to funeral time. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, January 11, 2014 in Cluster Springs Baptist Church with Reverend William Tucker Aplin officiating. Burial will follow in Cluster Springs Cemetery.