William "Bill" Richard McHale

Funeral services for William Richard McHale will be held at noon on Tuesday, November 27, 2012, at the First Baptist Church, Harrisonburg, LA, with Rev. Howard Hudson and Rev. Cory Bruce officiating. Visitation will be on Monday, November 26, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Harrisonburg. William Richard “Bill” McHale, age 60, of Wallace Ridge, LA passed away on Saturday, November 24, 2012, at Grace Home/Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, LA after a courageous, year-long battle with cancer. Bill was born in Bainbridge, Maryland, on September 24, 1952, as part of an Air Force family to Lt. Col. Robert V. McHale and Geraldine Trichel McHale. Bill, his brother Bobby, and sisters Betty and Anne lost their father in 1953 during the Korean Conflict and their mother in 1962. At that time, they became part of the family of their maternal aunt Audrey Trichel Gibson and uncle Elmer “Pat” Gibson and sons, Joe Pat and Steve, of Harrisonburg, LA. Bill’s life was a 60-year adventure, and he fully enjoyed every step of the journey. Part of that journey was a 35-year career with Baroid/Halliburton in the oil and gas industry, working on oil exploration rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and around the world and making life-long friends along the way. Bill is survived by his wife of 22 years, Joan Routon McHale; brother Robert V. McHale, Jr. and wife Mary of The Woodlands, TX and their children Andy, Gemma, and Will; Betty McHale Gaither and husband Conard of Wallace Ridge, LA and their children Jarrod and Amanda; Anne McHale Hooper and husband Jim of Gulf Breeze, FL and their children Jason, Sarah, and Jay; and cousins Joe Pat Gibson of Pensacola Beach, FL and Steve Gibson of Harrisonburg, LA. Bill was a beloved part of a very large and extended family and had a wide circle of friends, all of whom dearly appreciated his wonderful sense of humor, legendary story- telling, and kind heart. Bill was an active member and supporter of the Harrisonburg Methodist Church and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Pallbearers will be Dr. William C. Coney, Henry A. Taliaferro, Jr., Tommy Barton, Tony Broussard, Paul James Felker, Rox Routon, Steve Watters, and Cleve Womack. Honorary pallbearers will be James Aplin, Roger Dobbs, Craig Edwards, Mickey McKinion, Richard Price, and Ralph Reeves. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Harrisonburg Methodist Church or the Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home.

William "Bill" Richard McHale

September 24, 1952 - November 24, 2012