Honorable Hale Ralph Stancil, beloved Judge, Husband, Dad, Grandpa/Papa, Brother, and life-time Ocala resident, age 78, passed away on March 21, 2024.
Hale was born in Ocala on January 3, 1946, to parents George Ralph and Ethel Octavia Stancil. He attended Ocala High School (Class of 1964) and went on to attend Central Florida Community College, graduating with an Associates of Arts Degree. His educational journey then took him to the University of Florida where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1968. Hale then served in the United States Marine Corp as a Corporal from 1969-1971. Following his honorable discharge, he went on to attend Stetson University College of Law where he obtained his Juris Doctor in 1973. Later that same year, he married Rebecca (Becky) Warner, also of Ocala.
He began his career in private practice in Ocala in 1973 and served as Assistant Public Defender of the Fifth Judicial Circuit from 1974-1978. He was elected County Judge of Marion County and took the bench in 1983, serving until 1993 when Governor Lawton Chiles appointed him to his first term as a Circuit Court Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida. During his tenure on the Circuit Court Bench, Judge Stancil served in each of the Circuit’s five counties. He retired in 2015 after 33 years of service and continued to serve as Senior Judge until his death.
Judge Stancil’s professional affiliations have included Marion County Bar Association, Florida Bar Association, Marion County Criminal Justice Association, Conference of County Court Judges, Conference of Circuit Court Judges, and DR Smith Inns of Court. He has also published several articles on Self Defense, the Second Amendment, and the Right to Bear Arms.
Hale was active in several community organizations, serving in various leadership capacities for First Christian Church, Ocala Lions Club, Marion Dunn Lodge #19 F&AM, Ocala Shrine Club, West Central Florida Driver Improvement, Inc and many other groups and agencies.
In his spare time, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends farming, hunting, fishing, and reading. One of his favorite pastimes, growing and making sugar cane syrup, became an annual fall tradition that was enjoyed by many.
Hale was preceded in death by his parents George and Ethel Stancil and sister Georgeanne Schore.
Hale is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Rebecca Faye Stancil; 4 daughters, Stephanie DellaVecchia (husband Matthew DellaVecchia), Karen Stancil (husband Ken Capps), Suzanne Stancil (husband John Svercek), Kathryn Riechert (husband Scott Whitten), and 1 son John Stancil (wife Jennifer Stancil) and 17 Grandchildren, Ashlyn DellaVecchia, Audrey DellaVecchia, Andrew DellaVecchia, Mason Champ, Ella Champ, Lily Champ, Tyler Capps, Jordan Capps, Miles Stevens, Grant Stevens, Everett Stevens, Nathan Stevens, Brooke Svercek, Grace Svercek, Corban Stancil, Caleb Stancil, and Alden Stancil. Other survivors include sister, Renn Hinton and brother Harold Stancil along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family will receive loved ones and friends for a Visitation at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home located at 910 E Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, FL 34470 on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, from 5-7pm, with the Marion County Sheriff’s Honor Guard presiding.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at First Christian Church, 1908 E Fort King St, Ocala, FL 34471 at 1pm with the Masonic Lodge and US Marine Corp presenting honors. Reception to follow.
Donations can be made in his memory to Interfaith Emergency Services 435 NW 2nd St, Ocala, FL 34475 or The Gideons International, www.gideons.org