Mary L. Hale, 88 of Rushville and formerly of Abingdon, passed away at 3:25 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital in Rushville.
She was born January 10, 1932 on the family farm in Knox County, Illinois, the daughter of Arthur O. and Avis Dorene (Roberts) Olomon. She married Donald D. Hale on June 12, 1949 in Topeka, Kansas. Don preceded her in death on April 3, 1995. She was also preceded in death by her parents, two daughters, Debra and Connie, one son, Steven and one granddaughter, Michelle.
Mary is survived by her children, Terry (Lou) Hale, Nuevo, California, Linda (Donald) Rebman of Rushville, Greg Hale of Austin, Texas, Mike Hale of Peoria, Arizona, and Donna (Don) Davis of Riverside, California; 13 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ruby Way of Galesburg and Joann Baatz of Zephyrhills, Florida; nieces and nephews and their families, and cousins. A special “Thank You” to Peg Marks “for being there for Mom”.
She grew up on the farm and graduated from Abingdon High School in 1949. Mary and Don lived on six different Air Force Bases including one in England during his military career. She later lived in California for 16 years, where she worked the snack bar at March Air Force Base and later worked for Fleetwood Mobile Homes & RV’s for 4 years and then in purchasing for Sundial Campers for 8 years, retiring in 1980. She and Don moved back to Abingdon in 1983. Her hobbies included traveling, playing card games, bingo and she enjoyed watching her kids favorite sport teams with them on TV. She also enjoyed horse races, especially the Kentucky Derby. She made the best fried chicken and potato salad. She was also a “Huge” John Wayne fan.
Graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, October 29, 2020 at the Knoxville Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Abingdon Chapel. Due to the guidelines associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic, the use of facemasks is required along with guidelines for social distancing. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
