­­­­­Ernest "Bubba" L. Hale peacefully went to the arms of his Lord on August 25, 2018 after a long battle with illness. Bubba was born on January 6, 1927, at Fort Monroe, Virginia to Ernest C. Hale and Lillian V. (Hundley) Hale. Bubba grew up in Phoebus where he spent the majority of his full and long life.

Starting at the young age of sixteen his passion for firefighting led him to be a lantern boy for the Phoebus Fire Company. A World War II veteran of the Pacific Theater, he enlisted at the young age of seventeen and spent four years in service as a firefighter in the U.S. Navy. Upon returning to Hampton, Bubba began his thirty-eight year career with the Hampton Fire Department, rising to the rank of Battalion Chief.

Some of his accomplishments include inventing the first dispatch system for the fire department, receiving the Medal of Valor, a safety commendation award from the Sons of the American Revolution, the Firefighter of the Century Award, and most importantly: saving countless lives.

He is survived by his wife Betty Hale; his sister Tinka Hale Barrett; his children and their spouses Pam Hale Johnson, Terrie Hale Viars (Carl), Timothy Hale, and Amber Hale Betts (Chris); his grandchildren Evan Johnson, A.J. Johnson, Carson Viars, Conor Hale, Callie Hale, and Christopher Betts; and great-granddaughters Lilliana Viars, Madison Viars, and Amelia Johnson.

The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses and CNAs at Mary Immaculate Hospital and St. Francis Nursing Center as well as Glenda Miller (sister in-law) and Leonard Sulzberger for everything they did.

The family will receive friends Thursday, August 30, 2018 from 5 – 7 PM at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 AM Friday, August 31 at Phoebus United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in Parklawn Memorial Park with military and fire department honors.   The family would like to invite friends and loved ones back to the church for a celebration of his life following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Phoebus Fire Company or Phoebus United Methodist Church.