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Londonderry, New Hampshire - Richard Lee (Dick) Neal, 84, formerly of Heber Springs, passed away June 7, 2009 at the Bedford Hills Care Center in Bedford, N. H. after a brief illness.
He was born in Lebanon, Ind. on September 26, 1924, the son of H. Lyle and Mary Neal. He was raised and educated in Lebanon. He graduated from Purdue University in 1947 as a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity with a Bachelor of Science degree in Air Transportation.
He was a veteran of WWII serving in the Army Air Corps as a B-17 pilot. His plane was shot down over Leipzig on October 7, 1944, and he spent the last six months of the war in various German prison camps.
He worked as an executive for Texaco for 41 years, retiring to Heber Springs in 1988. He spent the last five years of his life in Londonderry, N. H. to be closer to his children and grandchildren, whose homes display his many woodworking projects. He enjoyed many summers at the family cabin on Dogtooth Lake in Ontario, fishing, driving the ski boat and playing cards. Duty, courage, dignity, and love of family were the cornerstones on which he built his life.
Family members include his wife of 51 years, Mary T. (Higgins) of Londonderry; a daughter, Catherine Weafer and her husband, Donald of Brunswick, Maine; a son, Robert Neal and his partner, Alice League of Minneapolis, Minn.; a daughter, Susan Palmer of Littleton, Mass.; a daughter, Nancy Peterson and her husband, David of New Milford, Conn.; a son, Thomas Neal and his wife, Maryann of Leominster, Mass.; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents, Mary and Lyle Neal; a sister and brother-in-law, Georganna and Vern McVey; a sister Rosemary Neal all of Lebanon; and his first wife, Mary Mattix Neal of Frankfort, Ind.
His ashes will be interred at 10 a.m. on June 22 in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lebanon, Ind. There will be a brief memorial service with full military honors.
Arrangements are by Russell and Hitch Funeral Home in Lebanon. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the AMVETS by calling 1 (800) 810-7148.
Londonderry, New Hampshire - Richard Lee (Dick) Neal, 84, formerly of Heber Springs, passed away June 7, 2009 at the Bedford Hills Care Center in Bedford, N. H. after a brief illness.
He was born in Lebanon, Ind. on September 26, 1924, the son of H. Lyle and Mary Neal. He was raised and educated in Lebanon. He graduated from Purdue University in 1947 as a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity with a Bachelor of Science degree in Air Transportation.
He was a veteran of WWII serving in the Army Air Corps as a B-17 pilot. His plane was shot down over Leipzig on October 7, 1944, and he spent the last six months of the war in various German prison camps.
He worked as an executive for Texaco for 41 years, retiring to Heber Springs in 1988. He spent the last five years of his life in Londonderry, N. H. to be closer to his children and grandchildren, whose homes display his many woodworking projects. He enjoyed many summers at the family cabin on Dogtooth Lake in Ontario, fishing, driving the ski boat and playing cards. Duty, courage, dignity, and love of family were the cornerstones on which he built his life.
Family members include his wife of 51 years, Mary T. (Higgins) of Londonderry; a daughter, Catherine Weafer and her husband, Donald of Brunswick, Maine; a son, Robert Neal and his partner, Alice League of Minneapolis, Minn.; a daughter, Susan Palmer of Littleton, Mass.; a daughter, Nancy Peterson and her husband, David of New Milford, Conn.; a son, Thomas Neal and his wife, Maryann of Leominster, Mass.; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents, Mary and Lyle Neal; a sister and brother-in-law, Georganna and Vern McVey; a sister Rosemary Neal all of Lebanon; and his first wife, Mary Mattix Neal of Frankfort, Ind.
His ashes will be interred at 10 a.m. on June 22 in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lebanon, Ind. There will be a brief memorial service with full military honors.
Arrangements are by Russell and Hitch Funeral Home in Lebanon. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the AMVETS by calling 1 (800) 810-7148.
