Neel, Richard (Dick) Merrill
Richard (Dick) Merrill Neel, 98, passed away peacefully on Tuesday afternoon, October 17, 2017, at his home in Summerfield, NC.
A native of Greenville, PA, Richard was born on October 10, 1919, the son of the late John Merrill and Bessie Baker Neel. In 1943, Richard was inducted into the Army Air Corps and trained at Grand Island, NE, as part of the 6th Bomb Group, 20th Air Force. After training, Richard served as a B-29 blister gunner based from Tinian Island and was ultimately awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his service.
In 1948, Richard moved with his family to Albuquerque and made it his home until 2015 when he relocated to North Carolina. His interest in photography carried over into a successful career in camera sales, eventually retiring from Kurt’s Camera Corral in December 1982. Over the years Richard was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Shriners Society, Albuquerque American Legion Posts 13 and 99 and the Albuquerque Dukes Drum & Bugle Corps. Later in his life, Richard became a drummer for the Palo Duro Senior Center band. In addition to playing drums, he enjoyed many other hobbies, including woodworking, boating and waterskiing. Richard was a proud World War II veteran and a Dallas Cowboys fan; but he will be remembered mostly as a good, kind gentleman who exemplified one of the “Greatest Generation.”
Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Neel, and a daughter, Patricia O’Brien. Surviving are his daughter, Melissa McQueen, and her husband, John, of Summerfield, NC; son, Duke Neel, and his wife, Bonnie, of Bosque Farms, NM; stepsons, Jeffrey Graham, and his wife, Gina, of Monrovia, CA, Randall Graham of Durango, CO, and Russell Graham of Henderson, TX; 14 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held on November 11, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., Daniels Family Funeral Services, Carlisle Chapel, Albuquerque, NM. Interment with military honors will follow at Vista Verde Memorial Park, Rio Rancho, NM.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ridge Honor Flight, P.O. Box 18057, Asheville, NC 28814.
Daniels Family Funeral Services
3113 Carlisle Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
505-884-1188