Hollis Bradley Hale, Jr.

Hollis B. “Sonny” Hale, Jr. passed away Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at exactly 88 years of age. He was born August 6, 1937, in Lexington, Kentucky, to Hollis and Martha Hale. He grew up in

Greenville, Kentucky, where he helped his grandfather and later father run the local

grocery/hardware/feed/seed store. Hollis graduated from Greenville High School in 1955, where it was rumored, he had two dates to the senior prom - one of them being his future wife,

Eleanor Simpson. Hollis and Eleanor both went to the University of Kentucky and were married on June 21, 1957. Hollis graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

While at UK he earned his United States Air Force commission through ROTC. His USAF career started in 1960 and ended in 1987 with his retirement at the rank of Lt. Colonel. Hollis was a Vietnam veteran. Over the years, Hollis and Eleanor lived in Kentucky, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Florida, Germany, Michigan, and Louisiana. After his USAF retirement, he worked for various companies managing B-52 flight simulators, first at Carswell AFB and then Barksdale AFB.

Hollis and Eleanor were very involved in their children’s school activities as boosters for the band, dance line, and school trips. Hollis drove a school bus full of band kids many miles to football games and on band trips. Hollis was also a Shriner.

Hollis was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor. He is survived by three children, Brad Hale of Dallas (Gary Scott), Karen Hale-Stenson of Bossier City, and Kathe Gegenheimer of New Orleans. He was known as “Opa” to his four grandchildren, Tyler Stenson and AnnaGrace Hale of Bossier City, Olivia Gegenheimer of New Orleans and Eric Gegenheimer of Corpus Christi.

The family wishes to thank the staff of The Blake of Bossier City for the excellent care given to Hollis over the last seven years. The family would also like to thank Bristol Hospice for their guidance and support.

A private family memorial service will be held at a later date in Greenville, Kentucky, where

Hollis will be laid to rest with Eleanor. The family wishes memorial contributions be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, www.stjude.org, or to the Shriners Hospitals for Children organization, www.shrinerschildrens.org.