Hale, Ralph D.

Ralph D. Hale, 86, of Blacksburg, formerly of Narrows, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 14, 2008, at the Kroontje Health Care Center at Warm Hearth Village in Blacksburg.

He was born in Narrows on May 17, 1921, and was the son of the late Ralph Carson and Roxie Ellen Mullins Hale. In addition to his mother and father, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Hale Margheim; one brother, Grat N. Hale; and three sisters, Virginia Johnson, Ruth Frazier and Beulah Bradford.

A 1940 graduate of Narrows High School, he served three years in the United States Navy during World War II on the Sergeant Bay. He managed the Narrows Theater and served as an agent with American National Insurance in Houston, Texas and United Insurance Company of America. He retired in 1986, yet remained active as a woodworker, Sunday School Teacher at the Narrows First United Methodist Church, and gardener. He was also a member of First Baptist Church in Radford. His smile and optimism will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Frances Winn Hale, of Blacksburg; a daughter and her husband, Connie, and Al Saladiner, of Salem; a son-in-law, Dale Margheim and wife, Lynn, of Blacksburg; three grandchildren, Shawn Saladiner and wife, Tina, of Chistiansburg, Amber Saladiner, of Blacksburg, and Chance Margheim, of Greensboro, N.C.; two great-grandchildren, Somer Lea Saladiner and Thomas Saladiner.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, February 17, 2008, in the Chapel of Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows with Dr. Paul A. Lane and the Rev. Kent Taylor officiating. Burial will follow in Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at Riffe’s Funeral Service on Saturday, February 16, 2008, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The family requests that those sending memorial contributions, please consider Southern Care Hospice, 5530 Peters Creek Road, N.W., Suite D-1, Roanoke, Va. 24019 or the Giles County Relay For Life to benefit the American Cancer Society. Online condolence messages can be sent to the family at www.riffes.com.