Thomas Blair Hale Obituary (1941 - 2014)

Born Jun 18, 1941, Thomas Blair Hale attended William Byrd High School in Vinton, VA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Thomas Blair Hale.

Graduation Year	Class of 1959
Date of Birth	Jun 18, 1941
Date of Passing	Aug 05, 2014
About	Thomas Blair Hale, 73, lost his battle with cancer on August 5, 2014. He was born in Roanoke, VA to the late Warren and Alma Hale. Thomas's memory will be cherished by his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 53 years, Bonnie B. Hale; daughter, Tamara Clyburn and her husband Gil, daughter, Pamela Daniels; granddaughters, Lynsey, Kelsie, Cameron and Courtney; along with many other extended family members and friends. He graduated from William Byrd High School in Vinton, VA and attended VA Tech, where he studied engineering. Thomas was an avid train enthusiast and began his career with Norfolk & Western Railway. In 1970, he moved to the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad, where he was Chief Engineer. He changed career paths in 1978 and went to work for E.T. Gresham Company as Operations Manager, and ultimately retired in 2003 from Tidewater Crane & Rigging Co. where he was Crane & Rigging Manager. Thomas had a life-long love of golf and Nascar. After retirement, he was active in the Model Railroad Club of Virginia Beach. He volunteered his time as a Trustee on the Apprentice Committee for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 147 since 1982, and served as Secretary/Trustee, appointed by the employers to the IUOE Local 147 Health and Annuity Funds. Thomas was most importantly a devoted husband, father and grandfather, affectionately called "Grandude", and will be dearly missed. He and Bonnie never missed their granddaughters' sporting events, and especially loved to watch them play field hockey and compete in swim meets. In Heaven, he joins his parents; in-laws, Lucille and H.G. Bryant; granddaughter, Angela; his aunt, Lillian and uncle J.C. Harrell; cousins, "Phred" and John "Coochie" Harrell; other extended family, and his furry friends Rosie, Koozy and Missy. A visitation will be held at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Kempsville Chapel, on Friday, August 8, 2014, from 6 to 7 p.m., with a graveside service at Rosewood Memorial Park on Saturday, August 9, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. Those wishing to make a donation in lieu of flowers may want to consider the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home.