Joseph Hale

Joseph H. Hale of Jacksonville, Florida, and Waynesville, NC died Wednesday, September 20th at St. Joseph's Hospital after a brief illness. He was born in Tampa, Florida on October 7, 1923. He graduated from Hillsboro High School and the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He was a US Navy veteran of World War II, having served in the Pacific. Mr. Hale spent more than fifty years as a pioneer in developing and planting citrus groves in the St. Johns River marsh of the Indian River Area. He was instrumental in starting the St. Johns River Drainage District, and had groves of his own. Mr. Hale was an enthusiastic golfer, gardener, and fisherman. He loved to be outdoors and enjoyed his North Carolina Farm. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Eleanor "Skippy" Herbert Hale, three children; Elodie Hale Craig and her husband, Dennis of Birmingham, AL, Joseph W. Hale and his wife, Linda of Port St. Lucie, FL, and Leslie Hale Weed and her husband, Bobby of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 23, 2006 at the Lake Junaluska Chapel with Reverend Jim Barrett officiating. Interment will be held at a later date in Florida. Memorials may be made to the HEAL Foundation (Healing Every Autistic Life), 5270 Palm Valley Rd. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082, a 501C-3 foundation originated by his daughter Leslie to aid families with autistic children. Wells Funeral Homes of Waynesville is in charge of arrangements.

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