Joseph R. Hale, Jr.
Decatur, GA. – Joseph R. Hale, Jr., age 60, of Longboat Key, Florida, passed away on June 21, 2021 from cancer.
Joe was born April 23, 1961, to the late Phyllis Hale West and the late Joseph R. Hale, Sr. He grew up in Ridgway, Illinois, where he graduated from Ridgway High School. Joe graduated from the University of Illinois in 1984, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He remained a dedicated fan of the Fighting Illini throughout his life.
Joe spent his professional career in the banking and regulatory field working for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and most recently the Farm Credit Administration in McClean, VA, where he was a Supervisory Examiner.
Joe was married to Valerie Hale, who survives. They have two children Nicole Bettis (Michael) of Carrollton, GA; and Christopher Hale (Monica) of Griffin, GA. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Clementine and Indiana Bettis and his sisters Susan Hale of Metamora, IL, and Sally Hale of Atlanta, GA.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents Pearl and W.L. (Butch) Miner and E.L. and Grace Hale and by step-father Harold F. West and step-mother Marie Hale.
There will be a remembrance service in his hometown in Illinois at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp Sunshine, 1850 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, GA 30033, or online at www.mycampsunshine.com.
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I love the light Joey had for others. Uncle Butch was so fond of his grandchildren especially Joey. Please know how sorry I am to hear this news. We will see you all in Ridgway. ❤️❤️❤️
I just found out and couldn’t be more shocked. Where does the time go? It seems like only yesterday we were kids playing all over that little town. I sure do miss those days, it was all so simple then. He was one of the best friends a guy could ever hope for and while we have grown apart over the years I have never forgot those times we spent together.
We played wiffleball, all summer, one on one with automatic hits. He would be the Chicago Cubs and I would be the Baltimore Orioles, he even bought me an Oriole helmet to play in (he had a Cubs one). The helmet was always kept at his house. A few years back I was telling someone about that and I decided to call Joe and reminisce. I told him my remembrance and he told me he still had my helmet and asked I wanted it. I told him to keep it for me and maybe we would play again. I was amazed he still referred to it as “my helmet.”
He was a really fine man who will be missed by many, my condolences to all those who knew him.