Adrian Alexander Hale, Jr.

Adrian Alexander "Ade" Hale Jr., age 87, died on Friday, July 26, 2024, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ade was born on February 17, 1937, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma to parents Adrian Alexander Hale, Sr. and Dora Alice McCulloch Hale. He graduated from Okmulgee High School in 1955, then furthered his education by obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State University. In 1960, he moved to Wichita, Kansas to work for an electric utility company and joined the Air National Guard. A lifelong pilot, he received his flight training while still in his early teens from his father, who managed the county airport for many years. On June 22, 1963, he married Carole Ann Umscheid. Shortly thereafter they moved to Tulsa, OK where he began a thirty-year long career at American Airlines culminating as the VP of Engineering and Quality Assurance. After Ade retired from American, he began consulting and traveled the world helping other airlines with the maintenance programs. Ade's mischievous spirit was evident throughout his life, from defending a classmate in kindergarten, to crashing his older brother's car into a train and setting a scooter on fire; he was always involved in some shenanigans. Carole came along at a good time and many of Ade's friends referred to her fondly as Saint Carole. Like his father, Ade was known to be able to fix anything and generously helped friends, family and even strangers with cars, houses and airplanes. He was always fixing up a car or plane. For the past 10 years, he was dedicated to St. Mary's Church Home Improvement Ministry. An enthusiast of snow skiing, water skiing, golf, fishing, flying, goats and practical jokes, Ade was cherished for his fun-loving and ornery nature. He valued his friends from Okmulgee, golfing, flying, American Airlines, and home improvement ministry and he loved his neighbors, especially the one's he had twice. Many of his grandchildren, nieces and nephews referred to him as "Cool Ade." He was a wonderful husband of 61 years, fun and supportive father and father-in-law, and ornery Papa. He is survived by his wife Carole Hale, his three daughters, Allison Fate (Steven) of Tulsa, Leslie Kelly (Keith), of Tulsa, and Adrianne Crossan (Billy) of Prague, Czech Republic. He adored his grandchildren Jesse Fate, Emily Fate, Pete Kelly, Caroline Kelly, Abigail Crossan, Levi Crossan, Adam Crossan, and Izabela Crossan as well as many other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, (Marion Esclavon) and his brothers (George Carl Hale and James Avery Hale). He will be deeply missed. A memorial service is scheduled for August 10th at 1:00 p.m., at Fitzgerald's on 91st and Harvard in Tulsa, OK. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to the Tulsa Boys Home or Special Olympics of Oklahoma, two places he liked to support. You can also honor Ade by doing something kind for a friend or neighbor, playing a joke, or simply raising a toast to the old GOAT.

Adrian Alexander Hale, Jr.

February 17, 1937 - July 26, 2024