Gary Lynn Halls

Gary Lynn Halls, 65, died peacefully at home in New Holland, Pennsylvania on December 1, 2012. Born May 11, 1947 in Red Wing, Minnesota, Gary was the son of the late Lawrence and Gertrude Halls. Gary spent his childhood in Minnesota with his three sisters, Caran, Kristine, and Barbara, and at age 12 moved with his family to New Holland. Gary attended Garden Spot High School until schizophrenia interrupted his anticipated life path. Despite many life-long challenges he faced as a result of the disease, Gary earned his G.E.D in 1966; married in 1971 and fathered two daughters, Jennifer and Christina; and was employed by Tyson Foods for over 20 years until retiring in 2009.

Gary was intelligent, inventive, persistent, honest, artistic, and generous. His home was a “museum” of his creative talents, both scientific (prototypes and models of numerous inventions including a tri-wheeled electric car, innovative sailboat rudders, a power-generating windmill, and a solar house) and aesthetic (from artworks and handmade clocks adorning the walls to metalwork sculptures, lamps and a large octahedral aquarium). Gary was a spiritual man, maintaining membership in the Himalayan Institute, regularly practicing meditation, and living his life by an unshakable moral code. Despite financial limitations, he gave to charities, including sponsoring a child through Plan International USA.

Gary is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Paschke married to Christopher Paschke and residing in Melbourne, Australia, and Christina Halls married to James Rupp of Ephrata, PA; his grandchildren, Owen and Ryan Paschke; his sisters, Caran Hardy of La Jolla, CA, Kristine Reid married to Richard Reid of Blackburg, VA, and Barbara St. Thomas married to John St. Thomas of Los Angeles, CA; 2 nieces and a nephew. He will be missed.

A life celebration service will be held on Saturday, January 19th at 2 p.m. at Groff-High-Eckenroth Funeral Home, 145 West Main Street, New Holland, PA, followed by a private interment at St. Stephens United Church of Christ cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) Pennsylvania, 2149 N 2nd St, Harrisburg, PA 17110-1005, www.namipa.nami.org, or the Water Street Rescue Mission, 210 S. Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603, www.wsrm.org.