Richard James Neal

Major Richard J. Neal, USAF Retired, returned home Sunday 8 June, and will be watching over all of us from a better vantage point. Rich was a loving husband, caring father, best friend to all he met, a true professional and consummate volunteer to any calling to serve others. After graduating in 1984 from North Hills High School in Pittsburgh, PA, where he met his wife, Rich entered Basic Military Training, and later earned an electrical engineering undergraduate degree from Penn State University and his master's degree from University of Dayton. A much-decorated combat airman in numerous operations, Maj Neal served many assignments all over the globe; foreign material exploitation missions, deployed during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and was instrumental in many aspects of technology improvements to support the defense of the nation he loved so much. Rich stayed with the Department of Defense after he retired from active duty in 2010 and rose to a Senior Leader in the Civil Service ranks, Air Force Research Labs, Wright Patterson AFB. Rich leaves behind his beloved wife of 18 years Marlies (Haldie) Neal, two beautiful daughters, Abby and Jamie, a step-son, Shaun, his father Frank and mother, Barbara, older brother Mark, younger sister Becky, and numerous family and friends. Rich and his fun-loving spirit will be missed by every life he touched.

Funeral Service will be held Friday June 13, 2014 at 10:00 am at Newcomer Funeral Home - Beavercreek Chapel (3380 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek, Ohio 45432). Visitation will be Thursday evening from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the funeral home. A graveside service will follow Friday at 12:00 pm at Dayton National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a scholarship fund for Abby and Jamie. Please visit www.newcomerdayton.com to share a memory in the family guest book.