Irene Holloman Hines Halle

Virginia Beach – Irene Holloman Hines Halle died at home October 9, 2017. She was 87.

A native of Virginia Beach, she was the daughter of Albert S. and Ruth Brashear Holloman, and grew up on 26^th Street. She was graduated from Oceana High School in 1947, earned a bachelor’s degree from Radford College, and began teaching in 1951. She retired from Virginia Beach Public Schools in 1992 after more than 20 years at Alanton Elementary.

She raised three children with Marvin R. Hines, and later enjoyed being grandmother to the grandchildren of her second husband, Charles F. Halle.

She loved big band music and dancing; cats; day lilies and roses; going to the beach, though not swimming; crafts of all kinds; word play and crossword puzzles; murder mysteries (the gorier the better); and learning.

A colonial history buff, she particularly enjoyed taking her children to local historic houses and to museums across the state. She volunteered at the Virginia Beach Historic Houses, and was best known for her interpretation as Grace Sherwood, the witch of Pungo. She jumped at the any chance to don a costume, whether it was as the accused witch, a fortuneteller, a storybook character, or a Native American woman. She called herself “Princess Running Mouth” when she wore the deerskin shift and moccasins she made.

Of all her interests, she derived her greatest satisfaction in retirement as a docent at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. She started volunteering the day after the Aquarium opened in 1986. Through the years, she served as an officer for the volunteer league, was a floor docent, helped with toddler and scout overnight programs, and signed up to man as many after-hours events as possible. In the years when her second husband’s health was declining, she referred to the Aquarium as her “therapy.” An Aquarium employee nominated her for a National Tourism Week award, and while she was not one to bask in accolades, that trophy sat where she could see it every day. A stroke forced her to retire from the docent corps after 24 years of service.

She is survived by three children, Wendell Hines of Hampton; Karen Hines of Virginia Beach; and Laura Barthello (and son-in-law Marc) of Hampton; niece, Anita Holloman Viccellio of Virginia Beach; nephew, Linwood Hines; and nine step-grandchildren. She is pre-deceased by her first and second husbands, parents, and brother, William S. Holloman.

The family would like to thank the M.E. Cox Center for Elder Day Care for four years of care and fun from the staff, and Compassionate Care Hospice for all the help the last week of her life.

The Cremation Society of Virginia will prepare her remains for her daughters to scatter in the ocean. At her request, no service will be held at this time.

She asked that memorials be considered for The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation, or the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad.