Ben W. Hale Jr.

1944 - 2015

Hale Ben W. Hale, Jr., 70, died on May 28, 2015. He was born on June 21, 1944 in Logan, WV to the late Ben and Bessie Hale. He is survived by his wife of forty-seven years, Jan; daughters, Susan Elizabeth and Sarah (Aaron) Underhill; grandchildren, Will, Nathan and Bradley; brother, Richard (Kay) Hale; sisters, Norma (Bo) Robinette, Louetta (Richard) Jimison, Wilsie Hale; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Cynda (Ron) Hibner. Ben attended Marshall University, receiving his BBA in 1967 and his law degree from The Ohio State University in 1970. He then found the perfect fit for his law career with Harrison Smith and Jim Tobin in what is now Smith and Hale, LLC where he specialized in the area of real estate development and has played a significant role in many major developments in Central Ohio. In 2014, he received Life Time Achievement Awards from NAIOP (Central Ohio Chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association) and the New Albany Chamber of Commerce. He was inducted into the Marshall University Business Hall of Fame and honored by both Gahanna and Dublin for his role in the development of their cities. Ben has also been active over the years outside of his law practice. He has served on the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities for over twenty years, serving as president twice. He received the Ray Ferguson Award from the Ohio Association of County Boards as the outstanding advocate for those with mental and physical disabilities in the State of Ohio. He was also a founding member and first chairman of Creative Housing, Inc., a non-profit corporation established to provide community housing alternatives for individuals who have mental retardation and developmental disabilities. The Creative Housing model which Ben helped create is now being used around Ohio and in other states. Ben was an avid everything: golfer, pheasant hunter, fisherman, reader, antique collector, student of life, devoted grandfather and "Camp Director" to all who visited his Eagle Nest Island in Northern Ontario, Canada. Over the last fifteen years, Ben has waged a valiant battle against his prostate cancer and has mentored many others in their fight. He will always be remembered as being a loving husband, father, father-in- law, grandfather, brother, uncle, respected attorney and a cherished and generous friend to all who knew him. Friends may call from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, May 31, 2015 and 5-7 P.M. Monday, June 1, 2015 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST CHAPEL, 1051 E. Johnstown Rd., where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, 2015. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Creative Housing, Inc., 2233 Citygate Drive, Columbus, OH 43219. To share memories or condolences, please visit www.schoedinger.com