Richard L. Hale ... longtime postman

ROCHESTER - Richard L. Hale died surrounded by family on December 19, 2014. He was 87 years old.

Born in Exeter, New Hampshire September 22, 1927, the son of Harry Lester Hale and Elsie Hutchinson Hale, Dick - as he was known to one and all - spent his formative years in Dover and was a member of the Dover High graduating class of '45. After serving a stint in the Navy, he eventually took a job with the United States Postal Service, delivering letters, packages for 34 years - eighteen in Dover and, then, 16 in Rollinsford, where he was the first mail carrier. He retired in 1990.

Dick's ranch-style home was festooned with bowling trophies, Do It Yourself manuals, and popular history tomes. He loved a leisurely barbecue by the pool almost as much as a good steamed hotdog, meticulously tended a constantly expanding collection of hats and caps. He held memberships at the Dover Elks #184, Rollinsford American Legion Post 47 and Dover Loyal Order of the Moose He also took immense joy in his schnauzer Zipper and Poodle-Chihuahua mix (don't ask) Charles Walter, and watcjomg WWII documentaries.

He was predeceased by his wife Edna (Hayman) Napolitano Hale, brother Paul E Hal, stepson Dale Napolitano and great-granddaughter Rachel Alice Aube.

Dick is survived by his sister Marilyn Hale Sanders (Madbury), son Robert Hale and wife Madeleine (Strafford), son Gary Hale and wife Elaine (Durham, N.C.), son Mark Hale and wife Terrie (Dover), daughter Cynthia Hale Dupuis and friend Buddy Brown (Dover), son Sgt. James Hale and wife Nom (El Paso, Texas), daughter Virginia Hale (Conway) stepdaughter Katherine Napolitano Geary and husband Dave (Rochester), stepdaughter Rachel Napolitano Paluch and husband Keith (Alton), stepson David Napolitano and wife Lori, and his dedicated longtime companion Virginia LaBrecque as well as nineteen grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren.