Dale (Burdette) Hails

On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, Virginia Dale Hails, lover of life, family and friends, passed away.  She was preceded in death by her parents, the late Otho and Olene (Atkins) Burdette, Jr.

Born August 14, 1951 in Nashville, Dale lived in many states, ultimately spending the last eight years in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  She graduated from Griffiths (Indiana) High School, and furthered her education at Ball State (B.S.) and Northern Arizona State University (M.S.). Prior to falling ill, she was a Doctoral Candidate at Penn State, needing only to complete her dissertation.

She was a Health and Wellness Development Analyst at Capital Blue Cross, in the CHIP program.

A longtime devotee and certified instructor of Iyengar Yoga, she twice traveled to India to study under its founder, Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar.  Through yoga, she sought serenity for herself and others.  She was an instructor at Just Plain Yoga and volunteered her time and abilities teaching yoga to women in the work-release program at the Dauphin County prison.

Dale always lived her life as an open spirit with humor and an appreciation of adventure.  She enjoyed traveling and exploring nature while camping and hiking.  She loved hiking in  the Grand Canyon, and completed the Rim to Rim hike in thirteen hours.

She was insightful yet effervescent; and believed in sharing her life without barriers or borders, but always with love.

Surviving is her husband, Robert L. Hails; one son:  Zachariah (and his wife, Deanna) Hails, Bremen, OH; 4 sisters:  Deborah (and her husband, Dr. Gene) Green, Wheaton, IL, Diahann (and her husband, Robert) Witter, Seattle, Rowane Burdette (and her husband, Timothy Ehlenberger), Espanola, NM and Tara Burdette (and her husband, Timothy Nibert, DDS), Galloway, OH; 5 grandchildren:  Caleb Conrad, Kelsey Conrad, Z. Austin Hails, Kylie Conrad and Zane Hails; and many nieces and nephews.  She was a bright sunlight in the lives of all who knew her, and will be dearly missed by her beloved family and friends.

A celebration of her life will be held 1:00 pm Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Chambers Hill United Methodist Church, 6300 Chambers Hill Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111 where friends will be received from 12 noon until 1:00 pm.  Following the services, there will be a luncheon in the church's Fellowship Hall.

Since Dale is also a breast cancer survivor, contributions may be made in her memory to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., 2600 Network Boulevard, Suite 300, Frisco, TX  75034 or online at www.nbcf.org/donate.

Kimmel Funeral Home, 2001 Market Street, Harrisburg, is handling arrangements.

For more information, or to sign the condolence book, please visit www.kimmelfuneralhome.com