Oakleigh 'Oak' R. Stickle, Ret. Battalion Chief, NHFD passed away at his residence in North Haven on November 19, 2012. Oak is survived by his wife of 71 years, Esther Dill Stickle; his brother Linwood Stickle of Branford and nieces Leslie Dengler, Diane Farley, Linda Schroeder, Ellen Berson & nephews Richard Stickle & James Dill. Born in New Haven on June 13, 1917 he was a son of the late Rose Bradley Stickle Norton & Raymond Stickle and step-son of Frank Norton. Oak retired in 1979 from the New Haven Fire Department after 33 years of service. He was a WWII US Army Veteran, a member of the Hiram Lodge # 1 A.F. & A.M., the Hamden Elks Lodge # 2224 and the American Legion of New Haven Fire Dept. # 132. His funeral will leave from BEECHER & BENNETT FUNERAL HOME, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden on Wednesday, Nov. 21st at 10:30 AM for a service that will be held at 11:00 AM in Hamden Plains United Methodist Church, 15 Church St. Hamden, CT 06514. Friends may also visit with his family at the funeral home 1 hour prior, 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Interment with Military Honors will follow in East Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions in his memory may be made to the Hamden Plains United Methodist Church.