Patrick "Red" Dennis Haile
Patrick "Red" Dennis Haile, 71, of Bridgewater, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 13, 2026.
Red is survived by his daughter, Erin (Charles) Whetzel; brothers, Michael (Gail) Haile, and Mark (Suzanne) Haile; sister, Jane (Ronald) Klacik; precious granddaughters, Reagan and Avery Whetzel; and numerous nieces and nephews, whom he loved dearly. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John J. Haile, Jr., and a sister, MaryAnn Haile Miller.
Red was born in Shamokin, PA on August 17, 1954, and was a son of the late John and Catherine (Concannon) Haile. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School, class of 1972, before continuing his education at Bloomsburg State College, where he earned his B.S. Degree in Business Administration and Accounting, class of 1976.
Red moved to the Shenandoah Valley in 1977 and worked for Kawneer and Banta before transitioning to Rockingham Cooperative, where he worked for 30+ years, retiring as Controller in the spring of 2020. Being a dedicated volunteer for the Bridgewater community, he served on the town council from 2001-2006, followed by several years on the Industrial Development Authority.
Red was an active member of the Turner Ashby High School community, where his daughter, Erin, attended. He served as a member of the TAHS Booster Club from 1997-2006, spending eight of those years as a board member. For his many years of service, he was inducted into the TAHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013, joining his daughter, who was inducted in 2012 for her many track and gymnastics accomplishments. To date, Red and Erin are the only father-daughter duo to be inducted into the TAHS Athletic Hall of Fame. While supporting his daughter from the track, Red began officiating local Valley District Track and Field meets, and continued to do so until he hung up his stopwatch after 27 years of service.
Over the years, Red became a constant presence behind the TA bench, encouraging and fully invested in the student-athletes. His passion for the Knights was evident at every game, but he held a particularly special place in his heart for the Unified Basketball and Challenger Baseball programs across the county. He believed deeply in the power of athletics to bring people together and celebrated those athletes with unmatched enthusiasm and pride. He showed spirit, loyalty and love to each athlete and he made lasting impacts that will continue to echo throughout the hallways of TAHS and around the community.
Red truly lived for his family. He took pride in every moment spent with his two beautiful granddaughters, Reagan and Avery, who affectionately called him "Big Daddy". They were the light of his life. He cherished his many fishing trips with his brothers, looked forward to his annual beach trips with the family, and he loved listening to bluegrass and spending time in the mountains. Red truly never knew a stranger and was a light to all that knew him.
The family will receive friends on Friday, February 20 from 5-6:30 pm, with a memorial service to follow, officiated by the Rev. Kent Prell.
Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson Funeral and Cremation Service in Bridgewater. Online condolences may be shared with the family at johnsonfs.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Turner Ashby High School Booster Club at 800 N. Main Street, Bridgewater, VA 22812.
