Richard Dean Hale, 79, of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2020, at Wabash General Hospital.

He was born February 12, 1941, the son of Harry H. and Irene (White) Hale in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Richard graduated in the Mt. Carmel High School Class of 1959. He proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corp during the Vietnam War.

Richard was a member of the Evangelical United Methodist Church, VFW, American Legion and was a Mason. Over his lifetime, he was a police officer in Henderson, Kentucky, worked at Snap-On Tools, was a prison security officer in Florida, a freight pilot and a security officer for Allied. Richard loved to dance, reading western and Louis L’Amour books and shooting his guns at firing ranges.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Lance Hale and his wife Molly of Watertown, New York, Kevin Hale of Evansville, Indiana, and Heidi Hale of Ft. Myers, Florida; grandchildren, Shiane Rivera-Hale, Faith Hale, Hannah Hale, Caleb Hale and Grace Hale; great-grandchildren, Mila and Tessa; brother, Ron Hale; and his girlfriend of fifteen years, Stella Ready.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents and brother Don Hale.

Visitation for Richard will be Friday, July 31, 2020, in the Chapel of Short Funeral Home, 527 Mulberry Street, Mt. Carmel, Illinois from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 p.m. with burial immediately following at Highland Memorial Cemetery. The family prefers masks be worn for the visitation.

Memorials can be made to the VFW Auxiliary of Lawrenceville, Illinois. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Condolences may be made online at www.short-cunninghamfh.com

Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve Richard’s family.