Hale died Dec. 7, 2009, at his home in Berkley Springs, W. Va.

He graduated as valedictorian from Mercersburg Academy and served a year in the Navy before entering Princeton in 1946. He belonged to Campus Club and graduated as a member of Phi Beta Kappa and with high honors in civil engineering.  

Hale retired from Pennsylvania Glass Sand Corp. in 1985 after a 35-year career, serving for the last 17 years as president and CEO. A former president of the National Industrial Sand Association and member of the board of regents of Mercersburg Academy, he also volunteered with the West Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, Boy Scouts of America, Morgan County Commission on Aging, and the Civil Air Patrol.

As an undergraduate, Hale belonged to the Flying Club and the Pistol Club. These interests continued after graduation. He enjoyed aerobatic flying, owning a number of different aircraft through the years, and participated in competitive pistol shooting. He was a licensed amateur radio operator, and in his later years, built and flew radio-controlled model helicopters.  

Hale is survived by Lwella, his wife of 41 years; four children; three stepchildren; 22 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Undergraduate Class of 1950