The Rev. Dr. Lester L. Hale Lester Leonard Hale of Jacksonville, age 101, passed away peacefully on Jan. 20, 2015. He is survived by his wife, Minnielee Gordon Hale. Les was born in Rice Lake, WI on July 6, 1913 to John E. and Leona Hale, both educators. He earned his BA at the Univ. of Wisconsin and his Master's and PhD at LSU, where he also taught. He married Evelyn Kent of Fluker, LA in 1934 and they made their home in Gainesville, FL until her death in 1976. Dr. Hale joined the Univ. of Florida faculty in 1935 as a speech pathologist and audiologist. He founded and directed the UF Speech and Hearing Clinic and developed the speech pathology curriculum to train speech teachers and clinicians. He was Director of the University Theater and visiting professor at six other universities. He was appointed Dean of Men in 1956, Dean of Student Affairs in 1960, and VP of Student Affairs in 1967. After 38 years of academic service, he retired from UF in 1973 as VP of Student Affairs Emeritus. In 1974 Dr. Hale was ordained to the ministry in the Presbytery of St. Augustine. He served as pastor of seven churches of the Presbyterian Church USA including Silver Springs Shores Presbyterian in Ocala, FL; Archer Presbyterian in Archer, FL; as interim pastor of 1st Presbyterian of Baton Rouge, LA; and as Parish Associate of 1st Presbyterian in Jacksonville, FL. In 1977 he married Minnielee Gordon Allen of Memphis. He was known throughout the southeast as an interpretive reader, particularly for his presentation of Dickens' A Christmas Carolan annual tradition at UF for nearly four decades, and for his readings of Marjorie K. Rawlins' short stories. He was president of the Southern Speech Assoc. and was a Sunday School teacher, choir director, deacon, Ruling Elder, Boy Scoutmaster and a member of numerous civic and professional groups. He authored three books: Preacher Gordon: A Mischievous Saint, The Iota Connection, and The Carol. Les was a man of deep integrity and compassion who will be remembered for his kind and patient nature, his positive energy and fun-loving enthusiasm, his generous and gentle spirit, and his exemplary faith. Perhaps more importantly, he inspired these characteristics in his family and others, an enduring legacy within those whose lives he touched. He is also survived by his children Kent Trickel Nobles (Orlando), Cynthia Hale Gross (St. Augustine) and Lester L. "Larry" Hale, Jr. (Orlando); stepchildren Sarah Green (Bastrop, LA) and Richard H. Allen, Jr. (Memphis, TN); 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and a loving host of nieces, nephews and extended family. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Sat., Jan. 24 at 1st Presbyterian Church, 118 E. Monroe St., Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Les' name to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida Foundation For Caring, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257 or to your local hospice organization. Arrangements are under the direction of George H. Hewell and Son Funeral Home, 4140 University Blvd., S. Jacksonville, FL 32216..FuneralSaturday, January 24, 201511:00 AM First Presbyterian Church118 E. Monroe StreetJacksonville, FL 322024140 University Blvd S Jacksonville, FL 32216 f: 904-739-81594747 Main St N Jacksonville, FL 32206 f: 904-353-0763