Halden L. Booth

10/13/34 - 12/22/12

“He was my best friend,” Sandra Booth told close friends, referring to her husband, Halden L. Booth, who made his transition on December 22nd. Hal was 78.

Health issues followed heart by-pass surgery earlier this year. He had expert care with wonderful doctors and nurses at Holy Cross Hospital. During the last few weeks of his life, Hal was lovingly attended to by his devoted wife of twenty years, as well as expertly and warmly cared for at Wilton Manors Health and Rehabilitation Center and the physical therapy team and in his final day, Catholic Hospice.

Born in Warren Ohio to Halden Leroy, Sr. and Hilda Chubb Booth of Canfield, Hal was the oldest of three children; his brother Wendell (wife, Pat) and his sister Marlene (husband Tom) all of whom will greatly miss him.

Hal graduated from Canfield High School in 1952, where he was active in sports and Kent State University in Ohio where he was a member of the ROTC, the tennis team and Sigma Nu Fraternity. He then served as a Captain in the USAF, where he flew the F-104 Starfighter.

Following his service in the Air Force, Hal began his prodigious career with Sears Roebuck and Co. He then joined the sales force at the former Youngstown Sheet and Tube.

In 1973, Hal joined Rockwell International, where he worked as Senior Vice President of worldwide sales and marketing. He was recognized for his vast experience in the transportation industry. The global organization represented ten product lines across seven product divisions, covering a base of approximately 300 original equipment manufacturers on four continents.

In 1995, Hal joined his longtime friend, John Flynn at First Fleet Corporation. “Hal Booth, my friend of over 20 years and trusted business partner… was a giant among men. He was very proud of what everyone at Fleet Advantage has accomplished as a company in such a short period of time,” John noted. “Hal faced death no different than he faced life: Full speed ahead, with sharp mental acuity, and a total absence of fear.”

At Fleet Advantage, Hal was responsible for monitoring and analyzing trends in the trucking/transportation industry. His industry knowledge provided management, staff and customers with primary research, which is critical to making strategic and tactical decisions regarding asset management. Hal also had considerable experience in the specification, design, and purchase of Class 8 truck equipment.

Hal leaves behind many wonderful memories of time spent with his children and grandchildren on Strawberry Lake in Hamburg, Michigan. Brenda McCain son-in-law David (Max, Molly and Maggie), Brian Booth (Morgan, Katelyn and Holly), as well as wonderful memories in Florida with his son, Dane Ducas and step daughter Linda Cartwright. Hal was pre-deceased by his stepson John Greger.

In lieu of flowers, Sandra requests donations be made to the Mental Health Association of Southeast Florida, an organization she and Hal have been passionately devoted to through fund raising, personal philanthropy and community support over the past 10 years… Please call Paul Jaquith, President/CEO of MHA at (954) 746-2055 or send a check to MHA at 7145 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderhill, Florida 33313. Visit www.mhabroward.org to learn about their programs.

To express sympathy and condolences, share memories and view tributes, please visit www.kraeerfairchild.com.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Wednesday, February 6th. Doors open at 10:00 a.m., with service starting at 11:00 a.m.; at the Sunshine Cathedral, 1480 SW 9th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. The Cathedral’s phone is (954) 462-2004.