James Gray Neale Jr.

Published 9:29 am Tuesday, June 5, 2018

James Gray Neale Jr. died peacefully at home May 30, 2018. A graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, he served in the United States Air Force. While at Virginia Tech, he was a member of the Regimental Staff of the Corps of Cadets and the German Club. He was elected to Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society and received The Society of the Cincinnati Medal which is awarded to the senior cadet officer who best exemplifies the citizen-soldier characteristics of Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus.

Jim was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and was active in the Farmville Rotary Club and was honored as the Outstanding New Rotarian in 2004 and as Rotarian of the Year in 2008.

Born on November 10, 1942, in Bluefield, W. Va., he is the son of Sophia Owens Neale and James Gray Neale. He is survived by his wife Ann Morton DeMuth Neale, his brother Howard Douglas Neale and his wife Sherri Webb Neale, and his daughters: Ann-Morton Holladay Neale Tice, her husband Robert James Tice and children Ryan James Tice and Emilie Aleksandra Tice; Elizabeth Owens Neale; Genevieve Gray Neale and her husband J. Kim Steinhorst; Sophia Venable Neale Worthington, her husband Brian Earl Worthington, and children Soren Gray Huette, Evan William Worthington, and Jack DeMuth Worthington.

Graveside services were held Wednesday, June 6, at 11 a.m. at College Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Hampden-Sydney, Va. At noon, friends gathered at the Farmville Presbyterian Church to greet the family and share a light lunch. Memorial gifts may be made to the Holladay Music Fund of the Farmville Presbyterian Church, 200 West Third Street, Farmville, Va. 23901.

Puckett Funeral Home is serving the family. www.puckettfh.com.