Hal Gimlin passed on peacefully to a greater place on the afternoon of Thanksgiving Day with his family, son Wiley, daughter Jody and daughter-in-law Andrea Carter Gimlin, at his bedside in the Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte.

Hal’s mother, Jane Gimlin, father, Robert Gimlin, and sister, Gail Barton, all reside in northern California.

Hal was 64 years old, born in Indianapolis, IN on Dec. 20, 1945. He grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, attending Lake Zurich High School in Lake Zurich, IL, where he played football and basketball. He moved on to graduate from high school at Principia Upper School in St. Louis, graduating as the most improved student in his class. He then moved on to studying for a business degree in marketing at Denver University, where he became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

After school, he worked in construction in Colorado until coming to Ashe County with his bride-to-be, Martha, and purchased a small Christmas tree farm from Mr. Ralph Reavis, and started what was to eventually become the Omni Farm Company. Hal was the President of Omni Farm throughout the years and was supported by his wife, a very well known artist of the mountain area in North Carolina. Martha passed on a year ago in August 2009. Their son, Wiley, succeeds Hal in the Omni Farm Company, and daughter, Jody, owns and operated Café Bohemia in West Jefferson.

Hal was an officer and on the Board of the Christian Science Society in Blowing Rock, and a member of the Board of Directors of the First Citizens Bank in West Jefferson. His great passion was growing and nurturing his flower and vegetable gardens, and his outstanding Christmas trees. He shared a long, very special relationship with his fellow tree farmers and will be greatly missed.

Memorial services will be private.

Boone Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.