Dennis N. “Butch” Hale, 75 of  Rock Creek, Ohio died Wednesday (Sept. 2nd) at the home of his daughter in Ashtabula, Ohio. He was born January 23, 1940 in Cleveland, Ohio the son of Claytor and Ruby (Busser) Hale with his mother dying in childbirth.

Dennis was a veteran of the Army in the late 1950’s. He later served on the Great Lakes and was the sole survivor of the shipwrecked Daniel J. Morrell which sank on Lake Huron on November 29, 1966. He was later a best-selling  author writing  his book “Shipwrecked”.  He was an honorary member of the International Shipmasters Association; the Great Lakes Lore Museum and the Maritime Museum of Sandusky.

He was a founder of the Ashtabula Lighthouse Restoration and Preservation Society; a member of the Knights of Columbus and had been curator of the Ashtabula Marine Museum for six years. He retired from work as a machinist with Rotor Tool and TRW.

Surviving him are his wife,  Barbara (Zinn) Hale whom he married August 3, 2002; two daughters, Cindi (Gary) Titch of Geneva-on-the-Lake and Katherine (Kenneth) Scaife of Wooster, Ohio; two step children, John C. (Laura) Robinson of Thompson, Ohio and Melissa LaMar of Rock Creek, Ohio;  seven grandchildren, Jill Fleeson, Jessica Crislip, Cassandra Crislip, James LaMar, Justin LaMar, Joseph Robinson and Sarah Robinson and a great grandson, Jack Cooney. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Gaylord Hale and Babe Hale and a sister, Jean Laparo.

A Mass of Christian burial was held on Friday (Sept. 4th) at Our Lady of Peace, St. Joseph Church with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery in Saybrook Township.

Memorial contributions in his memory can be made to Tridia Hospice, 1933 State Route #45, Austinburg, Ohio 44010 or The Animal Protective League, 5970 Green Rd. Ashtabula, Ohio 44004. The Ashtabula Home of Fleming & Billman Funeral Directors and Crematory are honored to serve the Dennis Hale family. Guest book, light a candle and obituary at fleming-billman.com

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