George Walter Neal, 79, of Hayes, Va., died peacefully at home on Tuesday March 10, 2015.

He was born on Nov. 12, 1935 in Oak Grove, Tenn., but was raised in Indianapolis, Ind.

He graduated from Indiana University in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education.  After graduation from college, George entered the Army and served honorably for more than 25 years retiring as a full colonel in 1984.  He served as Abingdon District Supervisor for several years before pursuing a career as a Bankruptcy Trustee, retiring in 2010.

George was active serving his community and church. George gave much of his time to volunteering with many charitable organizations including the Virginia Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Samaritan Group, and Gloucester-Mathews Free Clinic. He was instrumental in helping create the Laurel Shelter, Inc., the area’s first and only domestic violence shelter.

He was a member of Bethany United Methodist Church where he was blessed with the unending friendships of many and served as Finance Chair.

George is survived by his loving wife, Joni Neal. He is also survived by two children with Phyllis Neal (deceased), their son, Eric Neal of Boise, Ida. and their daughter, Myra (Missy) Johnson of Mathews, Va. and her husband, LTC(R) Paul Terry Johnson, and their children, Tucker, Connie, Caleb, Morgan and Preston.  He is also survived by his stepdaughters, Cherie Aukland and her sons, Jason and Nicholas, Lisa Aukland, and Kari Fernandez and her husband Tony and children, Jon Erik and his wife Jessica, Patrick and Kali.

A funeral service with military honors, for George Walter Neal, was held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2015 at Bethany United Methodist Church, Gloucester Point.  The family received family and friends at 1 o’clock at the church before the service. A reception was held at the Warren Belvin Fellowship Hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Endowment Fund of Bethany United Methodist Church (www.bethanyumc-gp.org), the Laurel Shelter, Inc. (laurelshelterinc.org) or the Abingdon Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad, (www.abingdonvfr.com).  

Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting his guest book on the Andrews Funeral Home website (andrewsfuneralservices.com).