A well-known Murfreesboro man has passed away. Walter D. Hale died at the age of 88 on Sunday. WGNS can recall that Mr. Hale always had his antique 1931 Model A Ford Roadster in the Murfreesboro Christmas Parade. In fact, Mr. Hale bragged that he was in the parade every single year for the past 43-years.

WGNS spoke to one of Mr. Hale’s daughters on Monday morning and she told us that while he only had a third grade education, he was one of the brightest business men you would ever meet. He was indeed an entrepreneur.  Hale was born in nearby Smith County, Tennessee in 1925.

Mr. Hale was married to his wife Beulah for 68 years. He got married when he was 20. It is interesting to point out that today; some 59% of the adult population is married and out of that number, only 25% actually stay married for 50 plus years.

When Mr. Hale got married in the 1940’s, the average annual income in Smith County was under $700. The average home in the Carthage area was worth about $1,200. When Walter and Beulah moved to Murfreesboro in 1948, the price of a home was nearly $16,000, as noted in the US Census Bureau (1940). We were told by a member of the Hale family that Mrs. Beulah Hale is still very active in managing rental properties in Murfreesboro today. Like her late husband, she too has a very strong work ethic.

Funeral services for Mr. Hale will be on Thursday (3/28/13)morning at 11 at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. For more, visit WGNSradio.com (BELOW).

$element(ophoto,photo_slideshow,28,width,height,duration,transition)$

Obituary:

Walter D. Hale age 88 of Murfreesboro went to be with the Lord, Sunday March 24, 2013 at Adams Place. Mr. Hale was a native of Smith County but had lived in Murfreesboro for the past 65 years. He was the son of the late Alvin and Maudie Robinson Hale. 

Funeral services will be 11:00AM Thursday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Brother Tony Hutson and Brother Don White will officiate. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. 

Mr. Hale is survived by his wife of 68 years, Beulah Enoch Hale; two sons, James Walter Hale and wife Pamela, Johnny Wayne Hale and wife Debbie; two daughters, Linda White and husband Don, Carolyn Yost and husband Jack; brother, Wilson Hale; sister, Gracie Bowen all of Murfreesboro. There are 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Mr. Hale was preceded in death by three brothers, Roy, Joe, and Paul Hale. 

Mr. Hale was a well know local business man and entrepreneur in Murfreesboro for the past 60 years. He was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy and attended Middle Tennessee Baptist Church. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. 

Visitation will be 4:00PM to 8:00PM Wednesday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel 615-893-5151 www.woodfinchapel.com  

Source:

Woodfin Chapels Obituary release
Linda White, daughter of Mr. Hale
U.S. Census Bureau Statistics from 1940+

*Note: Census statistics for 1950 are not yet
available due to a law that will not allow for
statistics to be released until 72-years after
they are recorded to protect the privacy
of families in the U.S. Therefore, records
from the 1950 census will be released
on April 1, 2022.