William M. Hale passed away Thursday morning, June 19, 2008 at Sky Ridge Medical Center at the age of 84. He was the son of Gartrude and Stella Blankenship Hale of the Benton Station Community. He was of the Baptist faith.

After graduating from Polk County High, he joined the army. He was in the army 44th Division of the 324th Infantry Regiment and served in France during World War II. After the war he worked for General MacArthur in occupied Tokyo, Japan. He later worked in Tokyo in Civil Service as a Court Recorder for World War II criminals. He moved to Nevada and worked in clerical work for Civil Service in Reno and later in Las Vegas where he retired in 1974 during which time he traveled to different states and countries and was an avid tennis player.

He is survived by his sister, Frances Sheehan of Reno, Nevada; two nieces, Sherry Harrington and Janice Levin of California, 2 nephews, Larry Hale of Alaska and Leo Sheehan of Arizona; a sister-in-law, Ginny Hale of California and a cousin caregiver, Mary Elizabeth Calfee of Charleston, TN. He had many friends and was loved by all who knew him.

A graveside service was at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 22, in Benton Station Baptist Church Cemetery with the Reverend Victor Hayes officiating.