Thomas Clason Neal

Thomas Clason Neal, 85, of Beavercreek, Ohio, passed away peacefully on November 21, 2024, at Miami Valley South Hospital. Born in Troy, Ohio, to Clason P. Neal and Ruth A. Neal, Tom grew up on a family farm in Monroe Township.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his devoted wife of 53 years, Mei Hwa Chen Neal; his beloved daughter, Hailee Neal Hoffman (Ryan); two cherished grandsons, Gavin and Landon, all of Anderson, Ohio; his sister, Carole Neal Cobb (David) of Tipp City; and his nieces, Tracy Amidon (Paul) of Larkspur, Colorado, and Jennifer Anticoli (Michael) of Tipp City.

A proud graduate of Tippecanoe High School (Class of 1957) and The Ohio State University (1961), Tom majored in Agriculture and embodied a spirit of adventure throughout his life. After graduating from OSU, he joined Aid for International Development, spending five years in Vietnam assisting rural communities. Upon returning to the U.S., Tom earned a master’s degree in political science from the University of Dayton and began working on his doctorate at Miami University, where he met Mei Hwa, the love of his life. They married in 1971 and returned to Vietnam, working there until the fall of Saigon in 1975. Upon their return, both testified before Congress about their experiences. In 2017, they were featured in a PBS special on Vietnam by ThinkTVPBS.

Tom had a lifelong passion for music. As a proud four-year member of The Ohio State University Marching Band (TBDBITL), he performed as a trumpet player and participated in alumni band events for many years. He often reminisced about marching in the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year’s Day in 1958. Later in life, he enjoyed playing music with local bands.

Tom was also a successful entrepreneur, owning and operating The Beer Barn, a popular party supply store in Beavercreek, for 25 years before retiring. His vibrant personality, love for adventure, and commitment to his family and community left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

Tom led a full and complete life and touched many people on his adventurous journey. We are all better off for knowing him. We lost a husband, father, grandfather “Gong Gong”, brother, uncle and friend. May you rest in peace, Tom.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Tom’s honor to the TBDITL Script Ohio Fund (Fund Number: 309538) at tbdbitl.osu.edu.