Hal Thompson Siler

Hal Siler, 90, of Sanford, NC, passed peacefully from this mortal plane at home after battling stomach cancer.

A celebration of his life will be at First Baptist Church of Sanford on Wednesday, 07/12/17 at 2:00pm. The family will receive guests beginning at 12:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. The burial will be held at Lee Memory Gardens on Hawkins Avenue at 11:00am of the same day.

Hal is survived by his wife, Esther Siler of Sanford. His three children; Judy Siler Boyette and husband Rick of Four Oaks, David Siler and wife Gwen of Sanford, and Tom Siler of High Point. Grandchildren include; Matt Johnson of Smithfield, Keith Johnson of Four Oaks, Abigail Puckett of Clayton, Brittany Siler of Cary, Devan Siler of the U.S.A.F., and Evan Siler of Charlotte. One brother, Richard Siler of Siler City. His niece, Cathy Jones, her husband David, and daughter Kacie Kennedy of Sanford.

Hal was a long and true member of First Baptist Church and was a loyal servant of our Lord and Savior. He served in many capacities at church including Chairman of the Deacons, Chapel building chairman, and Sunday school teacher of a sign-language class for the deaf for over 40 years.

He was a military veteran having served as a Sergeant of the Guards at Nuremberg prison in Germany at the end of WWII during the infamous Nazi Nuremberg trials.

Hal was instrumental in helping Lee Country attract a number of businesses to the area when he served as the President of the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce for 25 years. During his tenure, Sanford became a thriving economic center.

A farm boy from Chatham County, he was proud of his Siler City heritage. He became a historian on both the Siler family lineage and Lee County. He was a popular speaker on the historical aspects of the community he loved and served throughout his career. He was a long-term member of the Railroad House Historical Association and enjoyed regaling visitors with stories of Sanford and its roots.

Until the illness that claimed him, he was the oldest licensed land surveyor in the State of NC. While slowed down due to age, he was proud of his ability to continue to work after the age of 90.

His artistic flair was well known due to his many public speeches that usually involved some hand-drawn cartoons, poetry, or deep southern home-spun humor.  

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) Foundation (Hal Siler Scholarship Fund), 1105 Kelly Drive, Sanford, NC 27330; or to First Baptist Church of Sanford, 202 Summit Dr, Sanford, NC 27330.