Lynn Hale

1950 - 2026

Lynn Louise Hudson Hale died comfortably in home hospice care on February 10, 2026. She was born in Bradford, PA and raised in Mt. Lebanon, PA by her parents, Flora Jerkins Hudson and Robert Wright Hudson. Nicknamed, Susie, she developed a desire to help crippled children after seeing the 1959 movie, "The Five Pennies" wherein the band leader's daughter suffered paralysis from polio. She fulfilled this dream beginning at Thiel College, where she studied biology and physical therapy (PT) and where she also met her husband, Wayne Hale. They married in 1971 while continuing their education at the University of Pittsburgh. Afterwards, she practiced physical therapy while Wayne completed his family medicine training in York, PA. Daughter, Kathleen, and son, Drew, came along during Wayne's private practice years in Ligonier, PA. In 1986 the family moved to Greensboro where Lynn filled a variety of physical therapy roles and completed a masters in PT at the UNC School of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She was most proud of helping found the Department of Physical Therapy at Winston-Salem University in 1993 and participating in designing Bradley's Fun for All disability adapted playground in Hagan-Stone Park. She also made over 10 medical mission trips with Wayne to rural Honduras and more recently was active in refugee resettlement through the Summit Rotary. From their mountain home in Lowgap, NC, Lynn and Wayne traveled frequently to the New River Trail for bicycle rides. They enjoyed many overseas trips, particularly river cruises and visits to their "second daughter", Krissi (Daniel) Lootze, in Germany. Lynn developed breast cancer in 2009 which became stage 4 six years later, but until recently she held off the disease with the help of Gus Magrinat, MD and Vinay Gudena, MD at the Cone Health Cancer Center at Wesley Long Hospital.

She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her husband, Wayne; her daughter, Kate (Michael) Craft; her son, Drew (Khou) Hale; and eight grandchildren: Liam, Corbin, and Aveleen Craft; Braxton, Preston, Logan, Genevieve, and Savannah Hale. Also surviving are brother, Daniel Hudson, and sister, Barbara Mitchell, and their families. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Church World Service, Summit Rotary Foundation, or AuthoraCare Hospice. A memorial service will be held at Moriah United Methodist Church, 3611 Liberty Rd, Greensboro, NC 27406 on Saturday February 28th at 3 pm.