Lifelong Educator who Dedicated Life, Teaching, to Art of Music, Dr. William Paul Haller, Passes Away at 85

Dr. William Paul Haller, 85, Professor Emeritus of Organ Studies at West Virginia University, passed away Thursday, October 16, 2025 in WVU Medicine – JW Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

Dr. Haller was born April 25, 1940 in Cortland, N.Y., a son of the late William Raleigh and Elizabeth Steele Colby Haller.

Dr. Haller received his DMA from North Texas State University and both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the Eastman School of Music.

Dr. Haller’s first position was assistant professor at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. In August of 1979, Dr. Haller became an associate professor at West Virginia University, teaching organ, pedagogy, theory, piano, and counterpoint. He was the organist at the Worthington United Methodist Church in Worthington, Ohio until 2002, and the former organist for the Columbus Symphony and Columbus Symphony Chorus. From 2002 to 2014 he was director of music for the former Edgewood Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheeling. He most recently served as director of music at St. Thomas a Becket Episcopal Church in Morgantown.

Dr. Haller’s past honors include winning the National Organ Playing Competition in Fort Wayne, Ind. in 1965, and tying for second place at the International Organ Playing Competition in Chartres, France in 1974. Since 1982, Dr. Haller has been a fellow of the American Guild of Organists.

Dr. Haller is survived by his three children, Sara Loughney of Morgantown, Helen Martell and husband Rodney of Norfolk, Va., Paul Haller and wife Kelley of Ft. Worth, Texas; and five grandchildren, Matthew and Patricia Loughney, Emily Martell, and Delaney and Leah Haller.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Miles Martell; and two sisters, Jane Leighton and Anne Kingsbury.

Bill Haller will be remembered for his kind teaching, generous heart, wonderful cooking, and creative sewing projects.

A memorial service and celebration of Dr. Haller’s life will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, contributions, in Dr. Haller’s memory, can be made to the music department at St. Thomas a Becket Church, 75 Old Cheat Road, Morgantown, WV 26508 or Animal Friends, https://www.animalfriendswv.org/

Smith Funeral & Cremation Care of Westover (304-292-9494) is providing compassionate professional services to the family, and condolences may be offered at www.smithfcc.com