Lowell Hale

PEKIN, Ill. -- Charles Lowell Hale, 89, of Pekin passed away Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at his home, with his family by his side.

He was born Oct. 15, 1922, in Morrilton, Ark., to James Albert and Ruth Ethel Cunningham Hale. He married Leota Eugenia Colyer of McClure, Ill., on Jan. 1, 1950, in Tamms, Ill. She preceded him in death Oct. 16, 2002, after 52 years of marriage.

Lowell was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Ethelyn Kaye Brown of Fernley, Nev.; four brothers; three sisters; a half brother; and three half sisters.

Survivors include two daughters, Myra Jo (Steve) Quisenberry of Pekin, Gayla (Louis Arthur) Long of Green Valley, Ill.; a son, Tony (Pauline) Hale of Fern Park, Fla.; 10 grandchildren, Carrie Nicole (Ben) Davis of Normal, Ill., Chris (Amy) Quisenberry of Morton, Ill., Charles Keith (Audrey) Chance of Friendship, Tenn., Cheral (Jeff) Retzer of Waynesville, Mo., Mark Quisenberry and Heidi Jo (Chris) Swonger of Pekin, Brianne (Kyle) Burks, Kristina Hale, Brian Hale, Lois Hale, all of Fern Park; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Also a sister, Pauline Cooper of St. James, Mo.; five sisters-in-law, Carrie Hale of East Prairie, Mo., Deloris Hale of Murray, Ky., Joann Toler of Cape Girardeau, Shirley Colyer of Thebes, Ill., Elsa Colyer of Spanaway, Wash.; many nieces and nephews; and a family friend, Charles Rolinski.

He graduated from McCrory High School in 1941.

Lowell served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 during World War II in New Guinea. He received the Purple Heart.

In 1949 he graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor of science degree in education. He began his teaching career in a one-room school, grades first through eighth, in Southern Illinois. He also taught at Thebes, Ill., Advance, Mo., and South Pekin, retiring in 1976. He taught vocational ag, science and math. He also worked at Sears in Peoria, Ill.

He enjoyed gardening and hand embroidery. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Morton.

Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Davison-Fulton Woolsey Funeral Home, 301 Broadway St., in Pekin.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with ministers Richard Shaw and Jennifer Damotte of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin, with military honors.

Memorials may be made to OSF Hospice or the OSF Cancer Center.

Online condolences may be made at www.davisonfultonwoolsey.com.