John A. Hale

John Audie Hale, age 64, passed away on Sunday November 12, 2017 at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital in Alexandria, VA.

John was born September 27, 1953 in Chattanooga, TN to James and Mildred Hale. He graduated from Brainerd High School in 1971 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Hawaii Pacific College in 1988. 

John married Wanda Sue Crawford in May of 1973 and their daughter Erika Marie was born in May of 1978. 

John began his career in Military Intelligence with the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM).  He served in active duty status from 1973 through 1980.

John completed assignments in Ft. Huachuca, AZ., Augsburg, Germany, and Arlington Hall, VA.  In 1981 he accepted a position as a Department of Army Civilian with INSCOM, with an assignment at Field Station Kunia in Hawaii.  In 1996 he returned to Ft. Belvoir, VA where he worked until he retired in 2013 from Civil Service and began work as a Private Contractor with SAIC (Science Application International Corporation).  

 INSCOM Chief of Staff, Charles F. Sardo, stated “John was universally recognized as a consummate professional and Department of Army Civilian and Contractor, who took his role seriously and strove to improve process and procedure to help people. His efforts at INSCOM made a significant contribution to our Soldiers and to the success of their mission’s.”

John’s career provided him with numerous opportunities of travel throughout the world, to include Germany, Italy, England, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Puerto Rico, and a variety of locations in the US.

He proudly served as a First Sergeant in the United States Army Reserve, Pacific Command at Ft. DeRussy, Honolulu, HI.  He enjoyed instructing the troops, weekend drills, and annual training exercises.  

John was always looking for the adventure in life, whether it was the simple Sunday drive around town or one of his many multi-paged itineraries created for family vacations.  He was an expert at finding the best little known local dining spots and obscure tourist attractions.  During his many years of service to the Mililani, HI Bobby Sox Organization, John served as coach, umpire, and league president.  He strived to increase player and parent participation while focusing on inclusion for all and developing confident and successful team players.  

Hobbies included stamp and coin collecting, auction/antiquing with his wife and daughter, researching the Hale family genealogy, and recreational fishing.  He was looking forward to his retirement, where he planned to enjoy many years to come, fishing on the Tennessee River and Gulf area at his Florida property.

John was preceded in death by his parents, James M. and Mildred Williamson Hale; his brothers, James Wesley Hale, Howard Samuel Hale, James Leon Hale, and Carl W. Hale; his sisters, Lorena Hale Gann, Roberta G. Brown, Louise South, Colista Lee and Charlotte Anderson.

Survivors include his loving wife of 44 years, Wanda Crawford Hale of Alexandria, Va.; daughter, Erika Hale (Travis) Estrella of Lakeridge, Va.; brothers, Thomas Galbraith of Rossville, GA. and William Galbraith of Chattanooga, TN.; sisters, Betty Broughton of Tuscaloosa, AL, and Nettie Ruth Barnett, of Dawsonville, GA.

A celebration of life service will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 25, 2017 with Reverend Brent Roe, officiating.

Visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share condolences with the family.

The family will receive friends Saturday, from 2 until 4 p.m. service time at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Rd.

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