Wesley Ross Hale's Obituary
Wesley Ross Hale passed away on Saturday, November 12, 2022 in Gainesville,
Texas. Born in Dallas, Texas on May 27, 1935, to Philip Ross Hale and Juanita
Salathia (Ellis) Hale, he was the oldest child of a sibling group of four. The son of a
U.S. Air Force career officer, he lived in Japan for a time, shortly after the end of
World War II. It was there that he claimed one of his proudest accomplishments:
the climbing of Mt. Fujiyama. Back home in Dallas, he fished in nearby creeks,
worked part-time at a movie theater, and saved up for his first car.
Wes chose to follow his father’s example of military service to his country by
enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of seventeen in 1954. On October 9,
1955, he and Janis Marie Littlepage were united in marriage. She joined him on
military assignments in Florida and then in California where a daughter, Deborah
Lynn, was born to them on April 29, 1957. Wes took an honorable discharge from
the Marine Corps and returned with his little family to Dallas to pursue a career in
business, a career he had been actively preparing for with focused studies while in
military service. He and Janis welcomed their second child, Kari Sue, on November
4, 1959.
Wes was an imaginative entrepreneur and businessman. This, coupled with his
hard-driving work ethic brought him much success. He used the experience he
gained in sales to found Casters of Dallas, Inc. He and Janis worked side-by-side
for decades, she, an able administrator, he, a creative inventor and designer.
Many of his own innovations and designs were manufactured and put into use all
over the United States. Together, Wes and Janis built their dream home outside
of Celina, Texas, where their door was always open to family gatherings and their
acreage, which included a well-stocked fishing pond, was always available to
church and scouting groups.
Wes loved the out-of-doors, wildlife and the beautiful landscapes around him. He
was an avid fisherman and pursued his passion for deep sea fishing with trips to
Mexico, Hawaii and Galveston. He and Janis indulged their love of travel and
affinity for games of chance with trips to Las Vegas and other casino hotspots.
They searched for unique antique treasures wherever they traveled. In their
retirement years, they enjoyed buying and selling their antiques at local flea
markets. Wes especially enjoyed collecting guns, knives, and axes.
Wes began to attend church in the years after Janis died. Just a few short months
before his earthly journey ended, Wes asked his pastor to pray with him to
receive Jesus Christ as his personal savior.
Wesley Ross Hale was preceded in death by his dear wife of sixty-one years, Janis,
his parents, Philip and Juanita Hale, brothers Ellis Franklin and Phillip Carl.
He is survived by his sister, Ellen Marie Bell of Denton, daughter Deborah Lynn
Barnes of Collinsville, daughter Kari Sue Davidson and husband Gary of Sherman,
five grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and eight great-great
grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law
Kathy Hale of Garland and Debby Hale of San Angelo.
Services will be held at 2 PM on Monday, November 21 at the Wildwood Chapel
in the Restland Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas. at Restland Funeral Home.
Funeral arrangements for Wesley Ross Hale have been faithfully entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, which is located at 13005 Greenville Ave., at the intersection of Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243, and can be reached at (972) 238-7111.
What’s your fondest memory of Wesley?
What’s a lesson you learned from Wesley?
Share a story where Wesley's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Wesley you’ll never forget.
How did Wesley make you smile?