Local antique automobile enthusiasts lost one of their more famous and familiar members with the passing of Earl Kenneth Hale on September 4, 2014. Mr. Hale was born on March 14, 1920 to parents Ben Hale and Katie Pugh in McKee's Rock, Pennsylvania. He had two brothers and one sister, all now deceased. Earl married the love of his life, Ruth M. (Moody) Hale on May 15, 1956. Ruth was born on October 16, 1926 and passed away on February 13, 2009 in Champaign. They had no children.

Following Ruth's passing, Earl lived alone at their Champaign residence with his devoted companion "Tiger", a dachshund that Ruth and Earl had purchased and raised together. Though Earl would openly confess that Tiger had been Ruth's dog while she was alive, he and Tiger grew to become best of friends over the past few years and found numerous ways to 'spoil' each other.

Earl Hale served his country by enlisting in the Air Force and was on active duty from November 10, 1941 to December 7, 1945. Following military service, Earl lived in Champaign/Urbana and worked in a variety of jobs including electronics repair and automobile body work. He spent several years as a civilian instructor for the Technical Training Wing at Chanute Field in Rantoul, retiring from government service on April 30, 1983.

Through his varied work experiences, Earl gathered important knowledge that helped him pursue his number one focus in his life... antique and collector cars. Over the years, Hale had owned a variety of unusual and desirable automobiles such as Willy's, Studebaker, Frazier, Chevrolet, Cord, Pierce Arrow, Franklin and many others. However, he would always return to his Fords, the car he seemed more attached to than any. Earl was a familiar name and face at area car shows, swap meets, and other automobile events over decades. Antique auto owners and enthusiasts relied on his vast knowledge and experience gained from working with cars most of his life. He was capable of restoring, fabricating, maintaining and fixing almost anything related to his beloved hobby. Many auto enthusiasts were convinced that Earl had probably forgotten more technical information about cars in his lifetime than most of them could ever learn. He was considered by some to be a walking encyclopedia concerning automobiles. Earl maintained a remarkable stock of hard-to-find parts, unique tools, and technical suggestions to help bring almost any automobile or one of its many components back to life. His knowledge about older cars seemed almost unlimited. Many of the 'car people' who became personally close to Earl were able to benefit greatly from his sharing of suggestions, time and interest. On the other hand, Earl was never inclined to be as helpful to the few who would somehow take advantage of his expertise and willingness to assist them. As an example of his willing to support others during his healthier years, Earl would often venture out in one of his cars during heavy winter snow storms to seek out people who were stranded or needed a helping hand.

Earl Hale was not one of the original five founding members of the local Illini Collector Car Club but, joined the club shortly after it was formed. For over 50 years, he and his wife were avid supporters of this organization and attended most of their activities. Since 1994, Earl was also voted an honorary member of the Prairie A's Antique Ford Club which is based in Champaign/Urbana.

A potential friend to anyone who owned or loved antique automobiles, whether it be an original, restored, or modified vehicle, Earl had something to contribute. One thing said about Earl Hale was that ... ."If he willed it to happen, it would. If it didn't, he would simply make up a good story to set the situation straight". Earl will be remembered by his friends as a gentile, sharing, yet private man with knowledge and experiences realized by few. Once overheard during a phone conversation with a car owner who questioned his advice about a carburetor problem, Earl bluntly responded... "if you didn't want to know what was wrong with your car, then why did you bother me?" He leaves a great void in the local antique car community that will most likely never be filled.

Earl is survived by 'Tiger' his faithful companion; Susan (Paul) Cellucci of Whitman, MA; niece Cindy Totten of Strasberg, VA; and niece Barbara Fuller Hale of Maynard, MA.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at Renner-Wikoff Chapel and Crematory, Urbana; Rev. Paul Simpkins will officiate. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Champaign County Humane Society or a charity of the donor's choice is requested.

Condolences may be offered at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.