John B. Hull III, 92, of Great Barrington, died Monday, April 7, 2025, at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington. He was born in Great Barrington on May 12, 1932, the son of John B. Hull Jr. and Eleanor Wallace (Williamson) Hull. He attended local schools and graduated from Berkshire School in Sheffield.
After graduating John attended Colgate University and left after two years to enter the U.S. Army in January of 1954. He trained at Fort Dix, N.J. and served 16 months in Korea and was honorably discharged after serving two years active duty. He then spent six years in the reserve. After active duty in the Army, John went to work at John B. Hull Jr. Coal and Oil Business, which he eventually owned and operated for many years.
In 1956, John married Sally Jane Arnold of New Milford, Conn. They remained together for almost 56 years until her death on April 17, 2012. The couple had five children: John B. Hull IV, Forrest Arnold Hull Sr. Hannah Lee Hull, Bruce Culver Hull, and Roger Williamson Hull.
During his life, John served two different terms as trustee of Fairview Hospital, was a member of the Hope Fire Dept for 15 years, and was a member and chairman of the Great Barrington Planning Board. He wrote changes in zoning laws, served on the Board of Directors for the Mahaiwe Bank (which became the First Agriculture Bank from 1962 to 1998), was a trustee of Berkshire School in Sheffield for 11 years, was a board member and past president of Construct, and was a lifetime member of the James A. Modolo Post #8348. In the 1990s John organized a group of eight investors to purchase the burned remains of Taconic Lumber Co. Other Heads and Hands wrote for grants; performed design and legal work; and donated time, effort, land, rights of way, and sacrifices towards the successful completion of public parking lot in the former blighted area. In addition, former buildings of the Taconic Lumber Property were converted to other uses such as an art gallery, a bakery, and The Triplex Cinema.
John was an avid golfer and third-generation lifelong member and past president of Wyantenuck Country Club, as well as chair of their tournament committee for 35 years. During his golfing career, he scored three holes in one.
John is survived by his son Forrest A. Hull Sr; his daughter Hannah Lee Hull; his son Bruce C. Hull; his son Roger W. Hull; his daughter-in-law Beth M. Hull; eight grandchildren, John W. Hull, William Alden Hull, Forrest A. Hull Jr., Erin Hull, Hilary Hull, Daniel Hull, Shea B. Hull, and Eleanor W. Hull; and his sister Elee Hull. John was predeceased by his wife Sally A. Hull, his son John B. Hull IV, and his sister Joan Kelly.
Funeral services for John B Hull will be held on Friday, April 11, at 2 p.m., at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. A Celebration of John’s life will follow the burial at Wyantenuck Country Club. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in John’s memory may be made to either Fairview Hospital, First Congregational Church in Great Barrington, or Berkshire School. Condolences can be made through the website of Birches-Roy Funeral Home.
