Glenndell Hales

TSgt Glenndell Owen Hales, USAF Retired, age 86, joined his beloved wife Mickey in heaven on May 29, 2018.
Glenn was born on July 10, 1931, in the Beulah Community, Angelina County, Texas to Milton Curtis Hales and Minnie Lou Green Hales.  At a young age, his family moved to Aransas Pass, Texas where he lived until the 11th grade. In January 1949 Glenn enlisted into the United States Air Force and served honorably until his retirement in January 1969.
His military career started out with him in aircraft maintenance, taking him to Alaska during the Korean War. He flew as a crew chief in the airlifting of the wounded from Japan.  Glenn's first tour of duty to Keesler AFB was in 1959 cross-training in heavy ground electronics and radar.  This field took him to many TDY tours in Southeast Asia and into Vietnam.  In 1965 he returned to Keesler as an instructor retiring in 1969.  However, he claims his best duty station was to Craig Field, Selma, AL in 1952.  Here he met the woman that was to be his wife for over 57 years.
Immediately following his Air Force retirement Glenn started a career with the Bell Telephone Systems in the frame room at the Biloxi Howard Avenue office.  He retired in 1988, giving him and Mickey time to do what they loved best, being with their granddaughter Tracie Marie, working the flea market circuit, and fishing.
Glenn fought a 23-year courageous battle with cancer.  His daughter was his hospice caregiver for the last 6 months and then transferred to the Biloxi VA Niagara Neighborhood Hospice unit.  The family's deepest appreciation to the doctors and nursing staff at the Niagara unit for making Glenn comfortable in his final hours.  A special thank you to the Notre Dame Hospice personnel and staff, his nurse Gail and aid Tammy, who saw him every week for over 6 months.
Glenn is preceded in death by his wife Shelby Jean Sewell Hales, son Tracy O. Hales, his parents Milton and Minnie Lou Hales, brother Eldridge B. Hales, and dearest family friend for over 50 years Robert Garnett, Jr. of San Antonio, TX.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Penny and Thomas Edwards, granddaughter and husband Tracie Marie and Brian Craddock, his pride and joy great-granddaughters Ella
Claire and Shelby Anwen Craddock, many nieces and nephews, family friend Janelle Garnett, and his fur-babies Dixie and Rooster.
A graveside service will be Friday, June 1, 2018, at 9:00 am at the Biloxi National Cemetery with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, Glenn requested donations be made to either the American Cancer Society, the Biloxi Lions Club, Camp Wilkes, Inc. in Biloxi or to the Humane Society of South Mississippi.
The RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 274 Beauvoir Road, Biloxi, is serving the family and an online guestbook may be signed and condolences offered at www.riemannfamily.com