Hale, Earl Preston.

Hale, Earl Preston, born 30-08-1923 in Markham, Texas to William M.Hale  and his wife Ida Mae, born Brown, Hale, Earl grew up in Matagorda County, Texas, the youngest of seven children. He married Mary Jean Whittington on 30-12-1942.

Mary died 15-04-2011 (age 85) in Warr Acres, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Earl served in the Army during World War II, with the 103rd Infantry Division in Europe, and was awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star. .

The 103rd Infantry Division (“Cactus Division“) under command of Major General Charles Christian Haffner Jr.  was a unit of the United States Army that served in the U.S. Seventh Army of the 6th Army Group . The 103 Division, Campaigns: Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, Central Europe. Their awards: Distinquished Service Cross 12, Distinquished Service Medal 1, Silver Star 299 LM 3, SM  14 and BSM 2.669. Their Commanders Major General Charles C Haffner JR (November 1942- January 1945) Major General Anthony “Nuts” MacAuliffe   (January -July 1945)

Their casualities, Total casualities 4.558, killed in action 720, wounded in action 3.329, missing in action 88 and prisoner of war 421.

Following the war, Earl lettered in football at OU in 1946, under Jim Tatum, and in 1947 and 1948, under Bud Wilkinson. Following college, Earl was a geologist with Gulf Oil. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, his parents, three brothers and three sisters. He was survived by one daughter, Mary Lee Looper and husband Garry of Byng, Oklahoma; two granddaughters, Kelly Fike and husband Matt of Byng and Marla Looper, of Iowa City, Iowa; three great-granddaughters, Kaylen, Kendall and Kirsten Fike of Byng, and a host of nieces and nephews. He was known to most as “Gangan” and was the biggest fan that any daughter, granddaughter or great granddaughter could ever have. He was a strong, steady, silent man and will be greatly missed. Visitation was held on Monday, October 3 from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Buchanan Funeral Service of Oklahoma City.

Death and burial ground of Hale, Earl Preston.

Hale, Earl Preston died 29-09-2011, age 88, in Ada, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, USA and is buried at the Rose Hill Burial Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, VSSection: Love Sec., Lot 16, Sp. 3.

Message(s), tips or interesting graves for the webmaster:    robhopmans@outlook.com