Buddy Haile

Herbert J. "Buddy" Haile Jr., 82, of Chattanooga, died Tuesday, April 15, 2014. He was born April 27, 1931, in Chattanooga, a son of the late Herbert J. and Mary Aloyse Alsobrook Haile. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Margaret Haile Neuhoff and Thomas A. Grueser (son-in-law). Mr. Haile was a graduate of Notre Dame High School and the University of Notre Dame where he majored in engineering. Mr. Haile served in the U.S. Navy working for 13 months as an engineering officer on a cargo ship. He returned to Chattanooga in 1957 to help run the family business, W.C. Teas Electrical Contractors, a business that his father bought in 1920. In 1962, Mr. Haile took over leadership of W.C. Teas. He was very active in the community. He has chaired the board of Alexian Village, served as board vice president for Orange Grove Center, director of the Chattanooga Subcontractors Association and past president of the East Tennessee Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association. He was also active in the Signal Mountain Playhouse, the Serra Club, a life member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of St Augustine Catholic Church. In the 1970s, he began a scholarship at the University Of Notre Dame for deserving Southeast Tennessee students. Over the years, it has grown to nearly a full four-year college scholarship. Survivors include his wife, Margaret Haile; children, Suzanne Grueser, Nancy Prater, Linda (Steve) Hendrix, Robert Haile and Michael (Maria) Haile; grandchildren Chris (Jessica) Hendrix, Gabrielle Hendrix, Rachel Hendrix, David Grueser, Chelsea Haile, and Allison Prater; great-grandson, Brodin Hendrix. Nieces and nephews include Tony (Linda) Neuhoff, Pat (Nancy) Neuhoff, Mary Neuhoff (David) Bush, Chris Neuhoff, Cecelia Neuhoff (Bill) West. A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 1716 Anderson Pike, Signal Mountain. The family will receive friends at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. today. Memorial donations may be made to the Orange Grove Center, 615 Derby St., Chattanooga, TN 37404-1678, or Chattanooga Heart Institute at Memorial 2501 Citico Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37404. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanoogaeastchapel.com. Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 404 S. Moore Road, Chattanooga.