Larry Hale

Juniata resident Larry Lynn Hale, 84, died Thursday, Sept.1, at his home.

His funeral was at p.m., Tuesday, at the Juniata United Methodist Church with Pastor Kathy Uldrich officiating. Private family burial will take place at a later date at the Juniata Cemetery.

Larry was born June 10, 1938, on a farm southwest of Bethany, Mo., to Willard and Roberta (McCoy) Hale. He attended grades 1 through 12 at Eagleville, Mo., graduating in 1956. While in high school, Larry participated in 4-H. After graduation, he enlisted in the Navy from 1956-1959. He was sent to training in San Diego, Calif., and went on to serve 18-months on the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier. He received training in the sonar and electrical fields while on the Midway.

After being honorably discharged, he attended Columbia Missouri University and worked part-time as a grocery stocker and bartender. While bartending, he was approached by a foreman for Automatic Electric. They talked and he was offered a job and he accepted, being sent to Parkridge, Ill., for further training.

For many years, Larry was on the road for Automatic Electric, along with his first wife, Elaine. They welcomed four children: Dianna, Lee, Frank and Curtis. They later divorced. As a foreman, Larry supervised the installation of rotary dial boards at various telephone companies in several states.

In 1972, Larry quit Automatic Electric and was then employed by Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph Company in Hastings. He met his second wife, Ruth Ross, who also worked for LT&T. They were married February 21, 1976. He retired after 31 years in 2003.

Larry was a Boy Scout leader, Lions Club member, Eagles Lodge member, Local Telephone 7470 Union member, chairman of the Juniata Village Board, and volunteered at the Hastings Food Pantry. Larry also enjoyed going to Las Vegas and Fonner Park horse races.

Larry was preceded in death by his father and mother, Willard and Roberta (McCoy) Hale; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Carl and Delitha (Dee) Ross.

He is survived by Ruth, his wife of 46 years; children: Dianna Dean of Seattle, Wash., Lee Hale of Beaver Crossing, Neb., Curtis Hale of Lincoln, Neb., and Frank Hale; two grandchildren; four step-grandchildren, eight step-great-grandchildren; and three siblings.