Hale Nelson Bartley

BARTLEY, Hale Nelson, 75, BOWERBANK, January 9, 2013. Arrangements are in the care of the Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft.

BOWERBANK – Hale Nelson Bartley, 75, husband of Claudette (Levesque) Bartley, passed away January 9, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born February 21, 1937, in Westfield, the son of Norvil and Inez (Golding) Bartley.
Hale proudly served his country as a United States Marine. He joined the Marine Corps in 1958 and was assigned to the Rodman Naval Station in the Panama Canal Zone after boot camp. He was at Rodman for two years and then was stationed at Camp Lejeune for the remainder of his four year enlistment. Hale was an excellent marksman and a member of the Camp Lejeune rifle team. He was a Marine’s Marine. He always wore a Marine Corps utility cover as a demonstration of how proud he was to be a Marine.
Hale was an airline pilot for 30 years. He was an instructor pilot, a chief pilot and worked in management. He was well respected by his peers for his rare ability to balance pilot issues with management concerns. He began his career with Aroostook Air, and worked diligently for Downeast Air, Bar Harbor Airlines and Continental Express.
Hale loved doing daily crossword puzzles and suduko. He was a wonderful woodworker and made furniture for family and friends
Hale is survived by his wife of 32 years, Claudette; his daughter, Joni Bartley-Marsico and her husband, Keith; his granddaughter, Haley Crystal Howlett; a sister, Rose Marie Dafonte; two brothers, Barry Bartley and his wife, Sandy, and Ron Bartley and his wife, Sue, and their families; two step-daughters, Leanne Kimball and Paula Bess and her children, Dillon and Austin; two sisters-in-law, Betty Levesque, and Gerry Cyr and her husband, Roger.
He was predeceased by his parents.
While at Rodman Naval Station, Hale formed an enduring friendship with John Sanders, a fellow Marine. He will be missed by his friend of 54 years.
Friends were invited to call from 1 p.m. until time of memorial service at 2 p.m., Monday, January 14, 2013, at the Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Cancer Care of Maine, Lafayette Family Cancer Center, 33 Whiting Rd., Brewer, 04412. Messages of condolence and memories may be expressed at www.laryfuneralhome.com.