Randolph Hudson Hale, age 67, formerly of Salem, entered into his Heavenly Rest on Friday, November 27th, 2009 at his ancestral home in Galax, Virginia. He was born on January 18th, 1942 in Grayson County.

He was the son of the late William Lee and Florence Patton Hale. He was baptized and became a member of Locust Grove Church of Christ in his early teens. He was a graduate of Galax High School and East Tennessee State University. He entered military service at age eighteen serving in the United States Navy for four years.
After teaching history in Henry County for four years, he became a Counselor for the Virginia Vocational Rehabilitation Service, retiring in 2009 after 38 years of service.

He also engaged in residential counseling with Blue Ridge Behavioral Health for nine years.

He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth and Scott Christy of Greensboro, NC, a son and daughter-law Jason Randolph and Kelly Hale of Parksley, Virginia, a granddaughter, Anna Cait Christy and a grandson, Macauley Michael Hale; sisters and brothers-in-law, Nena and Kelly Hash, Helen Compton, Aileene and Elmer Hale and Jama Layne; nieces and nephews, Sherry Leonard, Shannon Reynolds, Kay Laffoon, Kim Chiapetto, Laurie Califf, Shelly Lindsay, Krystie Leonard; Michael Compton, Miles Compton, Mark Layne, Jack Layne, Adam Chiapetto, and Kevin Leonard.

He was preceded in death by: a daughter Cynthia Connelly Hale; sisters Katy Laffoon and Peggy Hale and a brother, McCawley Hale.

Having grown up on a farm in Grayson County near the New River, He developed a lifelong love of outdoor activities, which included fishing, boating, hunting, swimming, gardening and horseback riding.
Music was always important in his life. As a child he sang in church and at weddings. He played banjo and guitar.

He loved the water and nothing pleased him more than taking friends and family on his boat at Smith Mountain Lake, Chesapeake Bay and Morehead City, NC.
He had an inquisitive mind that incessantly sought knowledge of historical persons and events of this country and the world.

The funeral service was conducted at Locust Grove Church of Christ, Galax, Virginia on Sunday, November 29, 2009 at 3:00 PM with Guy Russell and Craig Embree officiating. A moving eulogy was delivered by his friend and co-worker, Humbert Lertora. Soloist was his niece, Kimberly Chiapetto.

Military rites were conducted by Grayson VFW Post 7726 at the Patton Cemetery. The program included scripture and prayer by Guy Russell and concluded with bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace.

Randy's devotion and passion for his family, country, and God were expressed in his own words the last weeks of his life—"Here lies a U S Navy man who believes in Christ, the Son of the Loving God. A man who loves his family, tried to be a good school teacher, and vocational rehabilitation counselor for over thirty-eight years and residential counseling for nine years. That's all Folks."