He was born in Scranton, the first son of the late Frank and Elsie Decker Hale. He was a member of St. Eulalia’s Church, Elmhurst. He attended Scranton Technical High School and later moved to long Island, NY with his family where he graduated from Flushing High School. During WW II he served with the US Army, 2947th Quarter Master Company, stationed in Blackstone, VA. Former member of the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and the Lackawanna Historical Society. After the service he returned to Scranton to continue his photography career. During his life he also worked at the Petersburg Silk Mill as a weaver, Alling and Cory Paper Company,  Hamel Corporation as a press operator and plant inspector, Eureka Specialty printing as a press operator, the Murray Corporation, owned the Keyser Oak Plaza Restaurant in the Keyser Oak Shopping Center and owned the Gulf Service Station, Clarks Summit.

    Before concluding his photography career he used his great expertise to teach multitudes of people the intricacies and techniques of cameras and photography while working in the photo departments of J.C. Penney Store, as photo department manager as part of the initial staff that opened the new J.C. Penney store in the Viewmont Mall, and the Eynon Drug Store before retiring in the late 1970's. Though he has worked in a variety of positions, he is best known as a freelance commercial photographer where he covered many Scranton social and sporting events. His pictures were frequently published in the Scranton newspapers. His photo studio was located on Linden Street and he also used the facilities at the Scranton Photo Shop and Vivian Studios.

    In 1969 he built a home in Moscow and settled there with his family. He received much recognition for his fine craftsmanship in finishing the basement of his home where he performed all of the carpentry, plumbing, electrical and masonry work himself. He was a civil war buff. A loving father and devoted husband whose caring and compassion and large sense of humor will be greatly missed.

    Surviving are two sons, Major Richard Hale (Ret.) USAF, and his wife Kim Hale, Montgomery AL, Attorney Michael Hale, Falls Church, VA; 3 grandsons, William Hodge, Stephen Hodge and Sidney Hodge; 3 great granddaughters, Kaylee Hodge, Natalie Hodge and Samantha Hodge.

    He was preceded in death by a brother, John Hale, 1987.

    The funeral will be Tuesday, February 7th,  from the Miller Bean Funeral Home, Inc., 436 Cedar Avenue, with Mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. Eulalia's Church, Elmhurst. Interment, St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Covington Township. Friends may call Monday 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

    Memorial contributions can be made in his memory to the NEPA Chapter of the Alzheimer Association, Kirby Memorial Health Center, 71 North Franklin Street, Wilkes Barre, PA 18701-1312.