Robert P. "R.P." Hale

SULLIVAN - Robert P. "R.P." Hale, 84 of Sullivan passed away 8:30 a.m. Sunday, June 5, 2011 at Eastview Terrace, Sullivan. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 9, 2011 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. R.P. was born June 7, 1926 in Flippin, Kentucky, the son of Joe Cyrus and Della Bessie (Smith) Hale. R.P. grew up in and around Flippin, Kentucky. He was a member of the Southern Baptist Church of Sullivan. He married Lillian Wilson Whitehead May 10, 1944 in Flippin, Kentucky. They lived in rural Flippin where they co-owned and operated a small tobacco farm until 1956. They moved to Sullivan Illinois, where R.P. worked for Guy Little Senior on the short-horn cattle farm South of Sullivan until 1960. He then worked for the City of Sullivan for 4 years and then moved on to a career as a manufacturing fabricator and welder. He worked at this with several Companies until his retirement from Agri-Fab in Sullivan. After retirement R.P. started a part time Lawn Care service. R. P. lived in and around Sullivan from 1956 until his death. He had extensive knowledge of livestock and, especially mules and horses, having worked with them most of his adult life. 'Grandpa' was an excellent farmer and gardener, loved to hunt and fish, and, above all he was the best Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather anyone could ever ask for. He was always quick with a story, and, no one was ever a stranger to him. He will be deeply missed. R.P. is survived by his son, Dale E.(Mary) Hale of Decatur; 3 Grandsons, Christopher Aaron (Rebecca) Hale of Blue Mound, Timothy Sean(Julianne) Hale of Cleveland, TN, and Benjamin Jason( Stacie) Hale of Forsyth;7 Great-grandchildren, Maggie, Truman, Aleita, Tatum, Kaylin, Emmett, and Harper, a very special friend, Ayline Moxley, along with a host of Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins. He was preceded in death by: his wife, Lillian, son, Robert J. (Bob), 7 brothers and sisters, Anna, Nettie, Buie, Cyrus, Roy, Sue, and Olene. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com Obituary written by family members. Online guest book at http://legacy.com/obituaries/ herald-review/