James Allen Hale

James Allen Hale, 85, of Roswell, GA passed away Tuesday September 4, 2012. Jim was born in Atlanta, GA and graduated from Tech High School in 1945. While in high school Jim achieved five varsity letters. Jim’s passion in high school was baseball. After high school, Jim was inducted into the army where he served post World War II in Germany. Following his discharge from the army, Jim entered Georgia Tech in 1947 and graduated in 1950, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering. Following graduation from Georgia Tech, Jim began his career with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Gadsden, AL. While living in Gadsden, Jim played on the Company baseball team and traveled every weekend to Atlanta to visit family and court his future bride, Martha Bryan. A year later, Jim accepted a position as Sales Manager with Atlanta Tires in Atlanta, GA. Jim married Martha on June 16, 1951. In 1954, Jim started his career with Ohio Chemical and Surgical Equipment. Upon his retirement in 1993, Jim turned his passion for travel into a part-time business. After working with several travel agencies, he founded Jim Hale Travel Agency which specialized in international golfing trips and luxury cruises. Jim had many interests including golf, travel, Georgia Tech sporting events, monthly outings with the Fourth Quarter Club, and spending time with family and his many, many life long friends. Jim was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. While his friendships and accomplishments were many, Jim’s greatest display of love, faith, care and devotion was that shown to Martha, his beloved wife, during a lengthy illness. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Hale, his parents and two sisters. Jim has three children and their families. Susan Hale Lester and her husband Charles Lester of Tallahassee,Fl; Carol Hale Connelly and her husband John Connelly of Brentwood TN; Michael Hale and his wife Stacy King Hale of Powder Springs,Ga and six grand children. Funeral services for Jim will be held on Saturday at 1:00pm at St. James Methodist Church with David Wofford officiating. Burial services will follow at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mt.Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Visitation will be Friday, September, 7 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Sandy Springs Chapel, 136 Mt. Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs, GA. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Georgia Tech Foundation at 760 Spring Street NW, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30308 or St. James United Methodist Church, 4400 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30342.