OBITS: NEIL Family, Blair County PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Aileen Fulcomer Copyright November 2003. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _____________________________________________ NEIL, Annie Irene (GROVE) - 1911 NEIL, Charles V. - 1967 NEIL, Edward R. - 1972 NEIL, Horace L. - 1979 NEIL, Raymond W. - 1948 NEIL, Rebecca E. - 1970 NEIL, William L. - 1941 _____________________________________________ ANNIE IRENE (GROVE) NEIL Mrs. William L. Neil died on Tuesday Evening at her home on Washington Avenue. After an illness extending for about a year, death relieved the sufferings of Mrs. William L. Neil, of South Washington avenue, at 5:15 o'clock Tuesday evening. Her maiden name was Miss Annie Irene Grove and she was born in Orbisonia bout forty-nine years ago. All her early life was spent in that vicinity. On December 24, 1897, she was united in marriage to William L. Neil, of this place, and this had been her home since that time. A little over a year ago Mrs. Neil was seized with a severe cold which resulted in pneumonia. Having never enjoyed good health, she found much difficulty regaining her former health and since that time been on the decline. During the summer of last year her _____ became chronic and developed into tuberculosis of the lungs. After endeavoring to throw off the hold of the dread disease by home treatment, but with little success, she was taken, on September 30, 1910, to the sanitarium at Mount Alto. At this stage her case was too far advanced and her strength at too low an ebb to be benefited by the change and her husband was forced to bring her home again on December 31. Since that time she had gradually grown weaker, in spite of her cheerful nature and oft repeated statement that she would soon be well and strong again. Besides the husband and father, whose life hopes are so shattered by this hard blow, there are left to survive a son and daughter who are Ralph and Jessie Eretta, aged 12 and 10 years, respectively. She also leaves three brothers - Enoch and Fred, of Pittsburg, and George, of Orbisonia. Funeral service will be held at the late home tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock by Rev. James B. Stein, D.D., pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church of which deceased was an earnest worker and member since early girlhood. Interment in Grand View cemetery. Clipping dated 1911 _____ CHARLES V. NEIL Charles V. Neil of Roaring Spring RD 1, died at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Penn Wood Guest Home, Everett RD 1, after a lengthy illness. He was born Oct. 26, 1884, at Petersburg, son of William S. and Urietta [Henderson] Neil, and in 1913 married Nina M. Kelso who died in 1948. Surviving are four children, Charles K. of Roaring Spring RD, Mrs. Marian Weyandt of Erie, Raymond of Martinsburg, and Ronald of Altoona; 14 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Mrs. Neil was a member of Grace Methodist Church, Altoona, and retired in 1950 from the P.R.R. 2nd St. tin shop. Friends are being received in the Thompson Funeral Home, Roaring Spring. {Altoona Mirror, April 15 & 17, 1967] _____ EDWARD R. NEIL Edward R. Neil of 617 W. 18th Street, Tyrone, died at 8:40 p.m. yesterday, April 28, 1972, at Mercy Hospital, where he had been a patient the past two weeks. He was born Dec. 5, 1903, in Tyrone, a son of Edward R. and Elizabeth [Thomas] Neil, and was married Dec. 27, 1928, at Sinking Valley be the Rev. Alter Harnish to Edith Wertz. Surviving are his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Doris Waite and Mrs. Peggy Updike of Tyrone, four grandchildren, and six brothers and sisters, Horace L. Neil of Tyrone, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith and Miss Uretta Neil of Altoona, Mrs. Pearl Cox of Huntingdon, Thomas Neil of Lancaster, N.Y., and Harry P. Neil of Englewood, Colo. Mr. Neil retired in 1969 from West Virginia Pulp and Paper Co., Tyrone, as a pipefitter after 40 years' service. He was a member of the First English Lutheran Church, F&AM and Blazing Arrow Hook and Ladder Company, Tyrone. Friends will be received in the Feller Memorial Home, Tyrone, from 7 to 9 p.m. today and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow. Clipping dated 1972 _____ HORACE L. NEIL Horace L. Neil of 200 Washington Ave., Tyrone, died at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, April 28, 1979, in the VA Hospital, following an extended illness. Mr. Neil was self- employed in the heating and roofing business and retired in 1973 after 47 years' service. He was born Dec. 22, 1900, in Tyrone, the so of Edward and Elizabeth [Thomas] Neil, and on March 31, 1923, in Tyrone, married Jessie J. Fagley. Surviving are his wife, six children, Mrs. Dorothy Lord of Ticonderoga, N.Y.; Mrs. Betty Gross of Northfield, N.J.; Horace L. Jr., of Tyrone, Eugene T. of Lewes, Del.; Richard L. of Warriors mark and Mrs. Maxine Jacobs of Shawnie Mission, Kan.; seven grandchildren, two great-granddaughters, and a brother and two sisters, Thomas of Lancaster, N.Y.; Mrs. Pearl Cox of Huntingdon and Mrs. Uretta Young of Altoona. Mr. Neil was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church of Tyrone. He was a past commander of the Howard Gardner American Legion Post of Tyrone and was a member of the Anderson-Denny VFW Post of Tyrone. Mr. Neil was an Army World War I veteran serving as a farrier with veterinary detachments, 5th Cavalry. Friends will be received in the Theodore J. Feller Memorial Home, Tyrone, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday. [Altoona Mirror, April 30, 1979] _____ RAYMOND W. NEIL Full Military Rites Planned For Well Known Tyrone Solider Word was received in Tyrone Friday evening that the body of T/Sgt. Raymond W. Neil, son of Mrs. Rebekah Neil, 3 West Twelfth street, will arrive in Tyrone Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock. Sergeant Neil died of wounds received in combat action in the European theatre Jan. 16, 1945. Sgt. Neil was the son of the late William L. and Rebekah [Wighaman] Neil, and was born Oct. 30, 1919, in Tyrone. He received his education in the Tyrone public schools, graduating with the class of 1937 from the Tyrone High school. A member of the First Presbyterian church, he was also a member of the Tyrone Players, Inc., Sgt. Neil played stellar roles in many of the productions of the company. He was a member of the YMCA male chorus and of the high school glee club. He served, as well, with the staff of the "High School Spokesman." A member of the art club, Sgt. Neil had exceptional talents and his work in art was considered as outstanding. He entered the armed forces Aug. 19, 1940, in Altoona, being assigned to the army medical center, Walter Reed hospital, Washington, D. C. serving there until Jan. 23, 1942, when he was chosen for the enlisted men's school of army finance at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Ind. After five months training, Sgt. Neil was graduated as a staff sergeant and assigned to headquarters company, finance office, 80th Infantry division at Camp Forrest, Tenn. In January 1943, he was transferred to headquarters company, finance office, Fort Jackson, S.C., receiving the grade of technical sergeant. In August 1943, he passed an examination for air cadet, going to Miami Beach, Fla., for basic training, then entering Rookhurst college, Kansas City, Mo. The cadet program was curtailed, Sgt. Neil being reassigned to the infantry at Chaffee, Ark., going from there to Fort Bragg, N.C., leaving for overseas in October 1944. Upon his arrival in France, he was assigned to the 398th Infantry regiment of the 100th Infantry division of the 7th army under command of Major General Patch. In December 1944, he won the Combat Infantryman's badge and bronze star, his regiment having seen action in some of the hardest fighting in eastern France, struggling through rains, snow and mud to take Baccarat. It crossed the flooded Meurthe river and forced the enemy beyond the Rhine river. Still later, in the drive on Raon L'Etape, the regiment out-maneuvered the enemy's prepared defenses, taking strategic areas to the east. Sgt. Neil was with the regiment during the major engagements, receiving his fatal wounds in the area Jan. 16, 1945. His remains were interred in Epinal cemetery, one of the burial grounds where rest the dead of the First World war. Surviving the sergeant is his mother, Mrs. Rebekah Neil; two brothers, Wilbur L. and Ralph E. Neil, both of Tyrone, and two sisters, Mrs. Charles R. Mengal of Tyrone and Mrs. Walter L. Kinsel of Altoona. His body will be removed to the Glass funeral parlors where friends may call. The place and hour of services will be announced later. Interment will be in the family plot in East Law cemetery, full military rites to be given Sgt. Neil by Anderson-Denny post, VFW, and Howard Gardner post, American Legion. Altoona Tribune, Monday, 26 April 1948 _____ REBECCA E. (WIGHAMAN) NEIL Rebecca E. Neil of 3 W. 12th, Tyrone, died unexpectedly at 4:45 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, 1970, in Tyrone Hospital, after an extended illness. She was born March 3, 1885, in Huntingdon, the daughter of Martin and Jennie [Barnsley] Wighaman, and married William L. Neil, who died in 1941. Surviving are a daughter and son, Mrs. Thelma Kinsel of Altoona and Wilbur L., of Tyrone, with whom she resided; two stepchildren, Mrs. Jessie Mengel and Ralph E. Neil of Tyrone; eight grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Hazel Emme of Altoona. Mrs. Neil was a member of the Military Order of The Purple Heart, American God Star Mothers, Altoona; Tyrone War Mothers, Tyrone American Legion and Tyrone Hospital Auxiliary. Friends will be received in the Getz & Searer Funeral Home, Tyrone, after 7 p.m. today and after 2 p.m. tomorrow. [Altoona Mirror, August 16 & 17, 1970] _____ WILLIAM L. NEIL William L. Neil of 10 West Tenth street, Tyrone, a retired tailor, died at his home at 11:00 o'clock yesterday morning following a stroke. Mr. Neil was born on Jan. 23, 1865, at Mooresville, a son of William S. and Uretta [Henderson] Neil. He was twice married, first to Miss Annie Grove who died on Feb. 7, 1911, and then to Miss Rebia Wighaman on June 4, 1913. Surviving are his wife, three sons and one daughter, Wilbur and Ralph Neil of Tyrone, Raymond of the United States army, Washington, D. C., and Mrs. C. R. Mengel of Tyrone; one step- daughter, Mrs. Walter Kinsel of Altoona; seven grandchildren, four brothers and one sister, S. F. and P. T. Neil of Tyrone, Edward R., and Charles of Altoona and Mrs. Beulah Harnish of Bellefonte. [Altoona Mirror, April 5, 1941]