George William Hale

George William Hale, age 92, of Murrells Inlet, SC departed from this world on February 10th, 2019. 

Born and raised in Newport, RI, his years there were full of accomplishments.  At the age of 17 in his senior year of High School he enlisted in the Navy.  He served as Radar Operator on a sub chaser during WWII.  He swam alone across Narragansett Bay, taught swimming to hundreds of children, saved a life while a lifeguard at Baileys Beach, tried out for the Boston Red Sox and played football for De Lasalle Academy, Rogers High School and then for Boston College.

After college he flew for Eastern Airlines where he met his future wife Lillian Sedgwick.  He moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut where he worked as a Safety Engineer at both the Bullard Company and Mine Safety Appliances, followed by a tenure as President of HALCO.  He also spent three and half years living in Saudi Arabia working for The Royal Commission of Saudi Arabia as the Director of Occupational Health and Safety in building the City of Jubail.

While in Connecticut he saved a life by jumping into a strong current and rescuing a young man from drowning.  And once more, he rescued a family from a burning home by rushing in before the fire department arrived.  During his career in Connecticut, he volunteered as an instructor for six American Red Cross Chapters and trained more than a thousand people a year.

Upon retirement, George moved to Murrells Inlet in 2003 where he remained active with the Red Cross as a Health and Safety Instructor for approximately ten years.  In his words, “the Red Cross is always a part of my life and it is so rewarding to help someone”.  He will be remembered as a kind, giving and humble man; a true gentleman and devoted family man and a lover of books and poetry.                                                                                                                       

George is survived by his wife Lillian of Murrells Inlet, daughters Ellen McGrail of Marblehead, MA and Leslie Hale (Richard) Geary of London, UK; and son George Peter of Nantucket, MA/Murrells Inlet, SC.   

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in George’s memory to the American Red Cross of Eastern South Carolina, 3531 Pampas Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

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