CATEGORY: Event TYPE: Obituary DATE: 21 Sep 2006 NOTE: Rodney F. Hale WINTHROP -- Rodney Frederick Hale of Sun City Center, Fla., and Winthrop, passed away Sept. 21, 2006, at Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice in Auburn, after a brief illness.
Born to Gertrude (Benkel) and Edward E. Hale on June 2, 1927, in Walpole, Mass., Rodney was a lifelong resident of Norfolk, Mass., until retiring from Simeone Corporation of Wrentham, Mass., in 1989 to live in Florida. He proudly served his country in two wars. As a merchant marine in World War II, he served on victory ships in the Atlantic. During the Korean War, as a first sergeant in the army corps of engineers, he received the Army of Occupation Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with a bronze service star, and Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendant for his service in the Far East.
Rodney was a heavy equipment operator, machinist and mechanic in the Boston area and a 30-second degree mason in the Charles River Lodge of Medway, Mass. A pioneer at the birth of stock car racing in the 1940s, he toured the Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut circuits. He personally built the cars that he raced. He also used his machinist skills to rescue and restore antique vehicles ranging from trucks to muscle cars from 1910 through the 1960s. Later he transferred his skills to racing miniature 12 meter radio controlled yachts. He also enjoyed traveling and camping in his RV.
He was a member of the Cygnet Yacht Club of Sun City Center, Fla., the Bay State Antique Auto Club of Dedham, Mass., and Golden Oldies Antique Auto Club of Sun City Center.
Rodney is survived by his wife, Rita King Hale; older sister, Doris H. Kirkton of Clearwater, Fla.; older brother, Edward E. Hale of Sun City Center; two nieces, Sylvia Kellershon and husband Norman, and Kathleen M. Warman and husband Douglas; three grandnieces and one grandnephew. He also is survived by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gary and Liz King of Winthrop; nephews and nieces Alan, Mark and Susan King; sisters-in-law Violette K. Webb and Alice J. King; nieces Lana Webb and Rhonda Vaughn, along with her husband, Arden; nephews and wives, Barry Webb and Kathy, and Stacy Webb and Rhonda; and many cousins.
He was predeceased by his older sister, Rita H. McAleer.
Special thanks to the doctors and nurses at Central Maine Hospital in Lewiston, Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, and Winthrop Ambulance Service.
In November at a date to be announced, a military funeral will be held at Florida's Bushnell Veteran's Cemetery along with a masonic service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Winthrop Ambulance Association, 29 Town Hall Lane, Winthrop, ME 04364 or to the Anch Hospice House Fund, Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, 15 Strawberry Ave., P.O. Box 829, Lewiston, ME 04243-0819. PLAC: Auburn, FL
CATEGORY: SSN DESCRIPTION: 030-20-4700
CATEGORY: Occupation DESCRIPTION: Simeone Corporation NOTE: Retired in 1989, to Florida PLAC: Wrentham, MA
CATEGORY: Residence DATE: 1977 PLAC: Norfolk, MA
CATEGORY: Residence DATE: 2006 PLAC: 1607 Bunker Hill Dr, Sun City Center, FL
