Henry Howard Hale

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way.” Psalms 37:23 Henry Howard Hale, was a good man. Born as the fourth oldest of ten children to Ethel and Frank Hale on August 24, 1923 in Jenkinjones, West Virginia, he completed his earthly journey on August 15, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio. Henry was preceded in death by both of his parents, his beloved wife, Annette; sisters, Orevia Hale, Juanita Wakefield and Luvenia Smyre; brothers Foye and Donald Hale. After graduating as valedictorian of his graduating class at Gary District High School in Gary, WV, he served his country by enlisting in the United States Army, from which he was honorably discharged after his tour of duty. After being discouraged by his father from joining him in the coal mines, he moved to Charleston, WV where he worked first as a janitor and then at the U.S. Post Office. While working at the post office, he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Charleston Institute State College. At the ripe young age of 82, he completed two years of paralegal work at Marshall University and at the age of 83, he fulfilled part of his lifelong dream when he was admitted to Law School at Marshall University. Though he possessed no law degree, he made his mark on the world through his deep passion for civil rights law. His keen intellect, passionate advocacy and drafting of an EEO discrimination case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court, catapulted him from working as a clerk at the post office to being recommended to work as a manager for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). His career with OSHA would lead him to head up regions in Pittsburg, PA, Columbus, OH and Lake Zurich, IL. After retiring however, he moved his family back to his beloved Charleston. There, he connected with Jewish lawyer, Roger Forman who would become his longtime friend and confidante. Forman hired him to work in his law office on cases related to civil rights and safety standards. Henry was a longtime member, Deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Charleston, West Virginia. A devout man of God who loved his family, he became the patriarch of the Hale family upon the death of his father in the coal mines. He worked diligently all of his life to provide for his family of birth, as well as for his wife and son. Henry’s name was great in the earth because he worked as unto the Lord and placed his hope and trust in God. Henry is survived by son, David Hale; sisters, Marion Scales, Theresa (Alvin) Street; brothers Herbert Hale. Sr. and Roger (Phyllis) Hale; grandson, Trey Hale and granddaughters, Trina and Melissa Hale; eight nieces, four nephews and a host of great nieces and nephews, cousins and special friend and confidant, Roger Forman.