Dr. Wesley Raymond Hale, 43, passed away on Monday, July 16, 2012, at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. Son of John and Bettie Hale, he was born in Roanoke, Va., and was a 1987 Northside High School graduate. He was preceded in death by his sister, Susan Hale Young. Wes pursued undergraduate studies in Chemical Engineering at Virginia Tech, earned a Masters degree and completed his formal education with a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas in 1998. He began his career as a Senior Research Chemical Engineer with Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport, Tenn., from 1998 to 2008 and was currently employed as an Applications Engineer in Projects Management and Development with Colortech, Inc., of Morristown, Tenn.

During his career, Wes was a Prolific Scientist and known as an expert in polymeric materials types and recognized for his high success rate of rapidly delivering solutions to business and technical needs via ideation and confirmation of concepts. Wes had substantial experience in writing patent applications and patent prosecution and was in the process of obtaining his Patent Agent license. Wes invented numerous patents which contributed in the success of his career. He received numerous awards throughout his career for his high performance in research, managing and public speaking.

Wes was a devoted husband, father, son, brother and loyal friend to many. He loved spending time with his family and enjoyed the outdoors, fishing and camping with his two young sons. Wes was gifted in many areas and shared a special talent through his writing and inspired others by his words. He was a humble servant to his Lord and Savior and never ceased to amaze others with his numerous talents, patience and acts of kindness to everyone he met.

Surviving are his wife, Michaela Christina Hale; two sons, Joshua Daniel and Ethan David; stepdaughter, Sarah Catherine, of Kingsport, Tenn.; father and mother, John and Bettie Hale, of Roanoke; sister, Linda Hale Woods and husband, Chad; nephews, Dillon and Austin Woods, of Roanoke; brother-in-law, Walley Young; nephews, Taylor and Kyle Young, of Rocky Mount; and many other devoted and loving family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to either Gideons International Roanoke East Camp, P.O. Box 373, Roanoke, VA 24003 or to the Hospital Hospitality House, 214 Reidhurst Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 21, 2012, at Bonsack Baptist Church of Roanoke by Dr. Robert Moore. Interment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 20, 2012, at Simpson Funeral Home, 5160 Peters Creek Road, 540-366-0707.