John Handsford McNeal, our beloved, husband, daddy, papaw, brother, uncle, great grandpa, cousin, friend, neighbor, brother Christ, gained his final reward-his angels wings, surrounded by his family, who will forever love and miss him, Tuesday, January 25, 2022. John was born to the late John Cleveland and Mae Flower Bonds McNeal. He was the eldest of 3 children.
John is survived by his wife of 66 years, Anita Lousie DeHart McNeal; daughter: Joan McDaniel and husband Doug, of Crab Orchard, WV, Joy Carol McGuire, of Indian Trail, NC; son: John Lee McNeal, of Robbins , NC; grandchildren; William” Billy” Adkins, Harold “Chip” Hedrick, J C McNeal, Garrett McGuire, Roy McDaniel, Steven McDaniel, Mickey McGuire, William McGuire; great grandchildren: Adelynn, Madison, Carter, Tesmairay, Caleb, Hayden, Bella, Gaige, Gunner, Lilly, McKenzie, Josie, Kaitlyn; sister: Brenda Carol Peake, who he adored..
John joined the United States Air Force in 1950 and served for 6 years. He was a Staff Sergeant for the Protocol Division, serving under General Davies.
In 1955, he married Anita Lousie Dehart, in Meridian, Miss., enroute to their new home in Montgomery, Al. After discharge from the military, they moved to Beckley, WV and started their family.
John was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, hunting, gardening, golfing and any type of water activity. He loved bluegrass and gospel music; “picking and grinning”
John lived most of his life in Beckley, WV until his retirement from Raleigh Ready Mix and Asphalt Company. He moved to Charlotte, NC where he worked as a security guard for 3 years and then relocated to Robbins, NC for the last 25 years.
John ran a small business, repairing lawn mowers, golf carts, small planes, farm equipment and similar items. John was liked by all and never met a stranger, loved attending area churches for revival and gospel singing. He loved all his friends at Maness Music Barn.
John was all about looking out for widow ladies, single moms- helping them fixing cars, mowing grass, handyman work-he believed in helping others!
He loved God, his family, his church and his Country. He loved good food, family visits and reunions, time at Stephen Lake, Grandview, Sunday car rides, bird and squirrel watching and sitting on the front porch waving, as folks passed by. Through the years friends and family said he looked like Clark Gable, Andy Griffin or Errol Flynn.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by daughter: Jane McNeal Totten; brother; Bill “B I’ McNeal; father in law: Buster Dehart and wife Dora E. Stump DeHart.
Funeral Service will be 4:00 PM, Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at Bright Light Baptist Church, with Military Honors. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 2:00 PM.
Burial will be 2:00 PM, Friday, February 11, 2022 at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley, WV.
Kennedy Funeral Home is serving the McNeal Family.
