Obituary: Reverend William Pembroke “Pem” Hall, 96

Reverend William Pembroke “Pem” Hall

Reverend William Pembroke “Pem” Hall, age 96, of Clifton Forge, Virginia died on Friday, March 27, 2026 at Lewis Gale Medical Center in Salem, Virginia.

Pem was born on June 26, 1929 in Clifton Forge to the late Pembroke Pettit Hall and Mary Louise Hannah Hall.  He was a graduate of Clifton Forge High School and Dunsmore Business College. He received his Bachelor Degree in Theological Education at Duke University and The Board of High Education of Ordained Ministry in Nashville, Tennessee. He was ordained by Bishop Wilham R. Cannon, United Methodist Church in 1972. In 1964, he began work as a United Methodist minister and served under appointment for 43 years in the United Methodist Churches of the Staunton District Circuit. Pem was a member of the Central United Methodist Church in Clifton Forge, where he belonged to the Men’s Bible Class

As of 2022, Pem was a 74 year member of the Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge # 166 A.F. & A.M. and the Alleghany Chapter No. 24 Royal Arch Masons, as well as a 32^nd Degree Mason and member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, S. J., USA, Valley of Roanoke.  As of 2021, he was a 65 year member of the Alleghany Commandry No.23 Knights Templar and the Kazim Shriners, Roanoke, VA, and was also a charter member of the Clifton Forge Shrine Club.

Other memberships include the Clifton Forge Kiwanis Club and the Clifton Forge Quarterback Club, past president. 

Pem served on the Fifth Planning Commission for the City of Clifton Forge, and also served as a chairman of the Clifton Forge Parks and Recreation Department, the Chaplain of the Clifton Forge Police Department from 1992 -2019, and as Chairman of the Regional Court Community Corrections Policy Boad and Alleghany Highlands Community Corrections Resources Board from 1985-1995.

Pem Hall was a dedicated railroad man, working for both the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and CSX Transportation for 44 years, as Chief Clerk to the Master Mechanic of the Locomotive Department, retiring from CSX in 1989.

In addition to his parents, Pem was preceded in death by his first wife, Mamie Frances Barton Hall in 2006.

He is survived by his wife, Freda Rochelle Unroe Hall of Clifton Forge; his daughter, Carolyn Hall Tinsley (Rick) of Richmond; a sister, Ann Hall Trible of Richmond; a niece, Susan T. Pitts (Dave), and their family, of  Brentwood, TN ; a nephew, Christopher Trible (Brook) and their family, of Richmond; a sister-in-law, Linda B. Fisher (Bob), and their family, of Roanoke; a step son, Michael Unroe (Patty) of Troutville and Mark Unroe (Christine) of Clifton Forge; five step grandchildren; and a number of cousins.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 1:00 PM in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge with Mr. Richard A. Tinsley officiating.  Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Forge. Masonic Rites will be conducted at the graveside by members of the Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge # 166 A.F. & A.M. Pallbearers will be Christopher Trible, Dave Pitts, Chaz Pitts, Brandon Pitts, Bob Fisher, Kurt Feazell, Steven Unroe, and Adam Unroe.  Honorary pallbearers will be Barry Balser, David Carter, Chris Broughman, Chris Fisher, Mark Unroe, Dave Oeltjen, Jim Eller, and Ron Bostic.  The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 11:30 AM until the time of service at Nicely Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the C & O Historical Society, 312 E. Ridgeway Street, Clifton Forge, VA 24422 or to the Clifton Forge High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 118, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.

To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com