Death Notices Lawton A. “Chic” Hull
Lawton Alder “Chic” Hull, musician and teacher and resident of Washougal since 1962, died at home peacefully at his Washougal River home on the Washougal River Sunday, July 15, surrounded by loved ones including his wife of 69 years, Wanda Beatrice “Bea” Jordan Hull.
Chic was born May 2, 1926, in Cottage Grove, Oregon, to Leslie Lawton Hull and Veta Alfareta Kruse-Plaster. Chic graduated Vancouver High School in 1944 and served in the Navy as a sonar operator in the South Pacific. He later graduated Lewis and Clark College earning both a Bachelor’s in Music and a Masters of Music Education. He performed professionally on both cello and French horn with the Portland Symphony (now Oregon Symphony) and Portland Opera Symphony earning his nickname “Chic” from his wife because he wore a tux to work.
Chic taught in Richland, Washington, before moving to Juneau, Alaska, in 1967 where he taught music in the public schools for 15 years. He played principal cello in the Juneau Symphony, and served as conductor there. An actor, singer and music director, he also performed with Perseverance Theatre, Juneau-Douglas Little Theatre, and the Juneau Lyric Opera. He led the Resurrection Lutheran church choir 14 years until retiring and returning to Washougal in 1982.
He loved barbershop and founded the local chapter of Sweet Adelines. Chic was active with civic organizations holding leadership positions in the Kiwanis, Lions, and Knights of Pythias; he was a member of NW Bandmasters Assn. He was proud of his Musicians Union 99 membership which he held from 1949 until his passing. Chic was interim conductor of the Vancouver Symphony and later associate conductor under Salvador Brotons. He conducted the chancel choir at Zion Lutheran Church in Camas. He shared his lovely bass voice with Bravo and Touch of Class. Even at 80 he was still performing and sang bass in the barbershop quartet of Music Man.
Chic was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and especially fishing. He loved punning, telling jokes and recounting stories. His encyclopedic memory made him a great crossword solver and he challenged himself daily by timing how long he took. Chic took great pride in his family and enjoyed making music with them at every gathering.
