Leo Hala

Ladislav Lev (Leo) Hala, 89 of Mineola, Tx, passed away peacefully November 17, 2023. He was born

July 28, 1934 in Mineola and was a devoted husband, brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather,

friend and follower of Christ.

His grandparents, Antonin and Anna Boubelik Hala emigrated from Czechoslovakia in 1912 where they

settled on 400 acres in West Mineola. Leo was the next to youngest of 5 children born to Vladimir

Svatopluk and Marie Krivanek Hala. His family were farmers by trade and hauled watermelons, ran a

lumberyard and small grocery store where they offered credit and puchased mineral rights to help

families save their farms. They were involved in many Czech activities at the Moravian and Sokal Halls.

They later moved to to Corpus Christi, TX where he graduated high school and married the love of his life

Murriel Annette (Ann) Hala, September 3, 1954. After training in the United States Army to be an aircraft

flight mechanic, they spent many years traveling the world while he worked for several airlines including

Braniff and retiring from Southwest Airlines where he received many awards of recognition and as a

passenger once fixed a grounded plane with only a screwdriver.

After retirement he was able to buy back the family farm in Mineola where he enjoyed being on his tractor,

Bluegrass, homemade Kolaches, hosting missionaries from other countries, time with his kids and

grandkids, woodworking and sharing life in the country with his soulmate. As members of New Hope

Baptist Church he served as a deacon and started a college and career couples class. They enjoyed RV

travel building churches with the Master Builders and were also involved with Texas Baptist Men, Baptist

Mission Association, National Conventions in the Czech Republic, weekly visits to nursing homes and so

much more in service to their community and church family. They were married for 59 years, until Ann

passed in 2013. Among their many accomplishments they were also blessed to adopt and raise three

children, Suzanne Kay Grant, Thomas Leo Hala and Gaye Lynn Woolverton.

Leo is preceded in death by his grandparents Antonin and Anna Hala, his parents Vladimir and Marie

Hala, his wife Ann Hala, two sisters Libby Ackerman and Mary Ann Dodd, his youngest brother Charles

Hala, granddaughter Brittany Hala and grandson Robert Grant. He is survived by sister Helen Dulak,

three children Suzanne Grant, Tom (Debbie) Hala, Gaye Lynn Woolverton, grandchildren Stephanie

(Jonathan) Adams, Christina Grant, Jonathan (Megan) Hala, Josh Simons (Ashley Woodall), Katrina

(Richard) Lee, Emily Woolverton, several great grandchildren, neices and nephews.

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