Hal MacFarland Hale, 95, a resident of Gaines Park, Kennesaw, Georgia, died on Christmas Eve, his favorite day of the year.

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, June 7th, 1924, he attended schools there.  The family moved to the Atlanta area, and he joined the wartime Army right after his 18th birthday. He served in Italy, where he developed his love for the opera.

A graduate of Emory University, thanks to the GI Bill, he was an educator and school administrator during his professional years.  He also did post-graduate work at the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, and the University of Wyoming.He served as Principal, Curriculum Director, Head Master, and in several other capacities during his long career, working in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Wyoming, and Mississippi, before retiring in 1980 to embark on another career in business.  He owned and ran several motels in the  Western North Carolina area, and enjoyed buying small houses in Greybull, Wyoming,in which he did lease to own deals, helping renters to become homeowners.

Hal had many hobbies and interests, such as current events, local politics, dancing, (especially at weddings and in the annual Nutcracker performances in Asheville, NC), singing, playing bridge, reading, and camping out West when his children were young.  Always a hard  worker, he had  paper routes as a teen, a young father, and as a senior citizen, the last one being the Asheville Citizen Times paper in the 80s and 90s! He loved his family, attending the symphony, and making wine.

Church was  always important and he served on the vestry, as lay reader, acolyte, and junior warden in Episcopal and Anglican churches around the South and in Wyoming.

Hal leaves behind his sister, Nancy Hill of Montezuma, GA; his children: Grafton W. Hale and wife Donna of Auburn,GA, Sally H. Riddle and husband David of Asheville, NC,   Griffin R. Hale and wife Lisa of Kennesaw, GA, and John "Mac" Hale and wife Marcie of Jackson, GA; his nephews:  David Hill and wife Dianne of Atlanta, and Douglas Hill and wife Kathy of Douglasville, GA;  his stepchildren:  Stephen and Mylene, Roy and Serena, and Sara Crystal; grandchildren: Shannon, Trisha, Michael, Rachel, Beka, Chelsea, Sarah, and Cassie;  great grandchildren:  Marley, Jake, Gavin, Eli, Lilly, Gram, Freya and Declan; great nieces and nephew: Alison, Katie and Andy.

Hal was preceded in death by his parents;  Lillian Willson and Grafton Bent Hale; his first wife, Geneva Griffin Hale, and his second wife, Francis Crystal Hale,; grandsons, Curtis Teague Hale and David Nelson Hall; and his recently departed sister, Marion Florence Hale

A memorial service will be held at St. Marys Episcopal Church in Asheville on Saturday January 18th at 2:00 PM, with imposition of ashes in the church yard immediately following.   All Are Welcome. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Jude Childrens Hospital, the Wounded Warriors Project, or Heifer International, all of which he generously supported.

The family would like to thank the dedicated caretakers that helped Hal maintain independence and health for a very long time:  Meals on Wheels of Asheville and Greybull, Visiting Nurses in Greybull and Kennesaw, the Senior Center of Greybull,and  Gaines Park and Tranquility House staff of Kennesaw. Also thanks to the many friends and family who prayed for his safety, volunteered to do house chores, checked on him, phoned to chat, made food, gave him rides,and provided so much comfort and companionship, thereby helping him to live independently until age 92.  

Condolences for the family can be left at www.GeorgiaFuneralCare.com