Merle Vincent Hale

Merle Vincent Hale, age 71 of Hardinsburg, KY died Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at Breckinridge Health, INC. He was born in McQuady, KY on November 27, 1948, the son of the late Wavie and Helen Rhodes Hale. He was a member of St. Romuald Catholic Church and a 1968 graduate of St. Romuald High School. 

Vincent served in the United States Navy from September 1969 to January 1973. He received an honorable discharge as a Radiomen 3rd Class, stationed at Norfolk, VA. He served in the United States Navy Reserves from January 1984 to January 2006 and retired as a Chief Petty Officer, stationed at Louisville, KY. He served on the USS Coronado in 1986 during the bombing of Libya and received the Navy's Expeditionary Medal, served in Gata, Italy in 1991 with the Commander 6th Fleet Staff in Desert Storm, served in Gata, Italy in 1993 in the bombing of Bosnia and received the Dynamic Guard Award for Enforcing a No-Fly Zone and served in Bahrain in the Persian in 2003 with the Amphibious Assault Squadron 8 Staff in Operation Enduring Freedom. After his retirement, he became a Civil Service employee of 21 years and later worked for the Breckinridge County Detention Center for a period of 10 years.

He was an avid UK fan and enjoyed watching Wildcat football and basketball. He loved family gatherings especially the good food.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son Chris, sister Regina and brothers Burl, Larry, Mickey, Bobby and Ray.

Vincent is survived by his wife Joyce of Hardinsburg, KY

daughter: Melissa Lucas and her husband Scott of Harned, KY

grandchildren: Morgan Lucas of Harned, KY and Grant Lucas of West Point, KY

brother: Gerald Hale (Juanita) of San Angelo, TX

sisters-in-law: Martha Ann Hale, Shirley Hale and Gail Hale

many nieces and nephews

Private funeral services will be held at Trent-Dowell Funeral Home with burial in the St. Anthony Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy are suggested to Pocket Full of Hope.

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