Billy Voyt Hall

Billy Voyt Hall, 86, of Gravette, Ark., died Monday, July 9, 2012, at Ozarks Community Hospital in Gravette, Ark., surrounded by his family. He was born on June 14, 1926, in Coal Hill, Ark., to Edgar O. Hall and Lois Ogden Hall. After graduating from Farmington High School in 1942 at the age of 15, he began college at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. At 17, he joined the Navy and trained at the San Diego Naval Hospital before transferring to the USS Lansdowne for a short time prior to the end of WW2. He was honorably discharged in 1946 with enough credit under the GI Bill for medical school. In 1950, he graduated from UAMS in Little Rock, receiving special honor for being the top student all four years. Subsequently, he was awarded a prestigious internship in Washington D.C. at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Because his tenure was in the midst of the Korean War, he quickly gained experience with trauma patients as well as a broad exposure to many other acute illnesses. In 1951, he started a family and was encouraged to establish a practice in an under-served community in rural Northwest Arkansas. Dr. Hall moved to Gravette and set up an office on Main Street. As his patient base grew, so did the needs of the area. He spearheaded an effort to build the first community hospital in 1955 and then a new state-of-the-art facility which was chartered in 1975. He retired from his practice in 2006 after 55 years of service. Dr. Hall was a friend and physician to many, a loving family man, a teacher and inspiration to his peers, a Godly man who served others, as well as a champion for his community. He is survived by his five children: three sons, Gordon Hall (Janie) of Bella Vista, Ark., David Hall (Billie) of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, S.C., Patrick Hall (Lacey) of Gravette, Ark.; two daughters, Donna Dennis (Joe) of Greensboro, N.C., Caroline Martinez (Joey) of Gravette, Ark.; seven grandchildren, Jacob Hall, Andrew Hall, Allison Hall, Shannon Versaggi, Kelley Norris, Clint Hall, Winnie Faye Martinez; and five great-grandchildren, Dylan Hall, Logan Hall, Luke Versaggi, Maddox Versaggi and Levi Norris. Family to receive friends from noon, up to service time, and memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 14, 2012, at the Heritage Baptist Church, 307 Fourth Ave. SE, Gravette, Ark. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Ark. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions be made to the Gravette Community Foundation or the Alzheimer's Association of Arkansas/Oklahoma. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.