Past & Present

We’ve got to go back many years to unearth our roots in this lovely part of Oregon. Many families in our area have roots as deep as ours; we share a common nurturing from the natural setting we’ve so enjoyed.

Virgil E. Hull, the founding father of Hull & Hull, moved to Grants Pass with his parents, when he was just 10 years old. After graduating from Grants Pass High School in 1926, he traveled to Ohio to study at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, earning his degree just two years later.

Returning to this area shortly after graduating, Virgil established Hull & Hull Funeral Directors, at Sixth & I Streets in Grants Pass. His business partner was his cousin, Ben; so you can see that it’s been a family owned business from the very beginning.

In 1931, Esther M. Harmelink married Virgil and together they raised four sons; William Ellsworth, Virgil Frederick, Jerry Edward and Thomas Michael. Their marriage was truly a partnership, as Esther was an instrumental part of the day-to-day business in the funeral home.



Virgil was to serve the community as Josephine County Coroner, beginning in 1932. He was also active in professional and civic organizations, serving as president of the Oregon Funeral Directors Association; as a charter member of the Grants Pass Elks Lodge, a member of the Golden Rule Lodge No. 78 IOOF and Grants Pass Lodge No. 84 AF & AM.

His was a full, rich, spiritually-grounded life as he was also a very active member of First Assembly of God Church. When he was able to get away for a few hours, he enjoyed his personal passion: fishing in our local rivers.

If we look back a mere 46 years, we see Virgil and Esther’s son joining the firm, after attending both the University of Oregon and the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science. Upon graduation from these institutions, Virgil F. “Fred” Hull served in the U.S. Army. It was 1962 when this second generation of the Hull family entered into the firm.

Just two years later, in 1964, his wife, Diane, joined the firm. The partnership of Fred and Diane mirrored that of his parents; not only did they work side-by-side in the business; they raised two children together, Kirk and Kendra. The Hull & Hull family extended its reach into the community in 1982, when they started Southern Oregon Cremation Services. They had heard many families express the need for such services, and they rose to the occasion in the expansion.

It was Kirk and Kendra, the next generation to join the firm, who helped to lead the Hull & Hull Funeral Home into the 21st century. Kirk came into service in 1988, his sister just 3 years later; and each truly enriches the business.

Continued expansion has been the hallmark of the past 12 years. In 1996, the firm purchased Hawthorne Memorial Gardens, and just 10 years later, we purchased Cave Junction’s Illinois Valley Funeral Directors.

In the more than 95 years since Virgil E. Hull founded our firm, families have trusted Hull & Hull Funeral Directors to serve them, and care for their loved ones. We are proud of the legacy left to us, and promise to continue this long-standing tradition of excellence in service.