Johnny Lee Hensley Hale, age 65, of Chapmanville, formerly of South Man, passed away Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at St. Marys Hospital in Huntington, WV.
He was born February 16, 1947, at home in Henlawson, WV, to the late Okey and Polley Belcher Hensley. A 1967 Chapmanville High School graduate and an alumnus of Marshall University, he retired after 32 years with the Logan County School System as a teacher at South Man Grade School, Cooperative Education teacher at Logan High School, and as Dean of Students at the Ralph R. Willis Vocational Technical Career Center. John served at the Logan County School Employees Federal Credit Union as loan officer and office manager since its inception.
John was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and papaw. He enjoyed life to the fullest, but mostly enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He had a contagious smile and never met a stranger. He was loved by all who met him especially his childrens friends whom loved him like a dad. He loved dancing and was voted best dancer in high school. He was an excellent cook and gardener, loving all things outdoors especially sitting on his back porch. The avid reader that he was, he would always end his day with a good book. He took pride in everything he did and these traits were passed on to his children.
In addition to his birth parents, he was preceded in death by his adoptive parents William Birch and Roxie Hensley Hale; and siblings Edward, Jackie, Woodrow and Amanda Hensley; and step-sister Ruby Queen. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 40 years, Mary Ruth Letsinger Hale, children John Robert Hale, Christopher Donald (Aimee) Hale of Huntington, and Jennifer Louanne Hale of Logan, brothers Franklin (Elizabeth) Hensley, Okey Hensley and Lucian Colley all of Virginia Beach, Va., ; sisters Sally Wall of Logan; Eliza Price and Becky (Fred) McCoy of Huntington, and Nancy Franklin of Dundas, Va.; sisters-in-law Jennie Lee Brown of Spring Hill, Florida; Perye (John) Kosempa of Charlotte, NC; and Betty Lou (Dave) Anderson of Alpharetta, Georgia; grandchildren Trey Chaffin and Aubree Lynn Hale; nephews Keith and Mike Franklin, Franklin and Okey Hensley, Scotty Price, Eddie and Patrick McCoy, Matthew Colley, Robert Dean Cook, Kindle, Cole Anderson, and Eddie Perry; nieces Teresa and Tammy Franklin, Lisa, Becky and Jo Hensley, Connie, Betty Jo and Kim Critten, Marsha Price, Faith and Amy Hensley, Lindsay Cook, Margaret Sharp, and Coni Nelson; and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Bruce McDonald Methodist Church in South Man at 1:00 pm. Hall Funeral Home Proctorville, Ohio assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.
