KINSTON, N.C. — Dr. Clarence Carlton “Bud” Hale, 97, passed away on Monday, May 28, 2018.
A graveside service will be conducted Friday at 10 a.m. at Pinelawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends following the service.
Dr. Hale, born May 30, 1920 to the late Arthur Asa and Sarah Lacy Hale, was the last surviving of nine children. He was inducted into the Elizabethton, Tennessee High School Sports Hall of Fame, as a member of the 1938 state championship football team. A First Sergeant during World War II in the Army National Guard, he served with the 30th Infantry Division “Old Hickory,” 117th Infantry Regiment, Company “A”. He landed on Omaha Beach in mid-June 1944, and entered combat soon thereafter. He was captured by German forces during the Battle of Normandy on August 7, 1944 in the Mortain Counterattack in Normandy, France, and was held as a prisoner of war for nine months until being liberated in April 1945. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and Bronze Star.
Dr. Hale was employed as a dentist with Caswell Center, retiring after 40 years. For many years he volunteered at Mary’s Kitchen and Meals on Wheels.
He is survived by his wife, Thelma “T” Hale; sons, Jeff Hale and wife, Nancy, and Pat Hale and wife, Donna; five grandchildren, Kara Hale, Mark Hale and wife, Charlotte, Joseph Hale, Patrick Hale and wife, Brittany, and Kevin Hale and wife, Shalin; and two great-grandchildren, Mason and Emilia Hale.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Mary’s Kitchen, 110 N. Independence Street, Kinston, NC 28501, Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 5274, Kinston, NC 28503 or Salute Local Veterans Organization.
A special thanks to Dr. Hale’s caregivers, Brenda Ball, Norma Bowen, Nancy and Richard Crumbacker and Linda Thompson.
Arrangements by Edwards Funeral Home & Cremations. Online condolences may be expressed at www.edwardsfhc.com.