Harvey James "Jimmy" Hull went to his heavenly home on January 19, 2025 at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Born on April 20, 1940 in Howard, Kansas, Jim's life was a beautiful testament to faith, family, and hard work.
The firstborn to Harold "Speck" and Betty (Hileman) Hull, Jim grew up surrounded by the warm, small-town charm of Howard. He attended Howard schools and proudly graduated with the Class of 1958. After school, he honed his carpentry skills, becoming a trusted craftsman in the community.
In 1963, Jim's life took a turn toward adventure when he joined the United States Army. That same year, he met Judith May Jackson, the love of his life. Their connection was instant and enduring, and they were married on July 23, 1964. Their first year of marriage was marked by both joy and duty as Jim and Judy were stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia during his military service. On July 23, 1965, exactly one year after their wedding, their daughter, Catharina, was born. Ten days later, the young family moved back to Howard, Kansas following Jim's honorable discharge. In July 1967, they settled in Towanda, Kansas where Jim built a life of love and stability. Their son, Christopher, joined the family on October 12, 1969, completing their cherished family of four.
Jim's hands were those of a craftsman, and his heart was one of a servant. He devoted his career to carpentry, working for various companies and pursing independent projects until his well-earned retirement at age 62. Beyond his professional work, Jim enjoyed building and working on cars and hot rods and going to car shows and hot rod runs. His hobbies also included camping, pond fishing, and bird hunting, but his greatest passion was spending time with his children and grandchildren.
A pivotal moment in Jim's life came in 1996 when he made the life-changing decision to walk down the aisle of a church in Howard, Kansas to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior. He was baptized on Easter Sunday along with his beloved wife, Judy, his son, Chris, and his grandchildren, Jeremy, Nick, and Nicole, a profound moment of faith and family unity.
As a member of Fairview Baptist Church in Towanda, Jim poured his heart into the congregation not only as a deacon, but also in its Vacation Bible School program. He was a gifted whittler and designer, lovingly creating backdrops that inspired countless children. His creativity also extended to his passion for classic cars as a member of the El Dorroders Car Club.
Jim's legacy lives on in the lives of those he loved most: his devoted wife of 60 years, Judy; his children, Cathy (Tom) Wood and Chris (Angela) Hull; his grandchildren, Nick, Nichole, Jennifer, Jeremy, Gavin, and Colin'; and his great-grandchildren, Tyler, Mikayla, Mathis, Mace, Mia, Finlee, and Esther. He is also survived by many extended family members and friends. Jim was preceded by his parents, Harold "Speck" and Betty Hull.
Jim Hull's life was a tapestry of love, dedication, and faith. His gentle spirit, quick wit, and unwavering devotion to his family and community will be deeply missed but forever cherished by all who knew him.
A Celebration of Life was held on January 31, 2025 at the Fairview Baptist Church in Towanda, Kansas. He was laid to rest with military honors at Farview Cemetery directly across from the church. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Fairview Baptist Church Missionary Fund ensuring that Jim's legacy of faith and generosity continues to impact others. Heritage Funeral Home of Andover, Kansas was in charge of arrangements.
(taken from the Heritage Funeral Home website)