Robert A Neal

Robert Allan Neal, cherished husband of Anne Neal, was taken into the eternal love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, October 15, 2017 at 3:45 pm after a long and complicated battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Bob was born on May 21, 1939 in Charleston, Illinois to a dirt-poor tenant farmer. Although he was raised in an impoverished and abusive family he was a standout high school basketball player and graduated from Steward-Strasburg High School along with 21 other students in 1957.

At the age of 17, Bob enlisted in the United States Navy. He saw his enlistment as a way to make something of himself despite his challenging childhood. After completing basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois Bob attended the International Morse Code School at Imperial Beach, California. The Navy discovered his gift for languages and he then received 12 months of total immersion training in Russian language at the height of the cold war. He acquired conversational German, Turkish, and Japanese while stationed in those countries.

Bob travelled extensively in the Navy over the next 27 years working in 35 foreign countries from Pago Pago to Norway, to Japan and also the Arctic Circle and Barents Sea He served as a Cryptologic Specialist for 12 years and an Intelligence Officer for 15 years. He rose through all 9 of the enlisted ranks faster than anyone ever had and he was the youngest Senior Chief Petty Officer ever. He then rose through the 4 available ranks of Warrant Office and once again out of promotion opportunities, applied for a commission as a regular officer and was commissioned as an Ensign. 4 ranks later, he retired as a Lieutenant Commander. During his career, Bob served in field operations as a Russian linguist and directed cryptologic and intelligence operations from submarines, destroyers, reconnaissance, carrier aircraft, and ground stations in the Middle East and Key West, Fl. His last tour of duty was at the Naval Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He had two favorite Navy sayings, “All those aft move forward, those forward move aft, those in the middle mill about smartly” and “if it moves salute it; if it doesn’t move, paint it.”

Bob was 45 when he retired from the Navy and in keeping with his personal code of responsibility; he continued to work in the private sector until he again retired for good in 1999.

Bob met his wife, Anne (an Air Force nurse), while they were stationed at a Joint Air Force/Navy Base in Athens, Greece. They were married in 1976 and were together for 42 years. Bob always told friends and family that Anne was “the best thing that ever happened to him.” He was unfailingly intrigued by her varied interests and talents. Bob was always the most important part of Anne’s life. They had a deep bond and were true soul mates. He knew he was deeply loved and treasured. He had a special sweet relationship with Anne’s mother and once, during a long hospitalization, Bob stayed with Anne’s mother overnight so Anne could go home and rest.

Bob was a private person but those who knew and loved him found him to be intelligent, kind, caring, unfailingly polite and strong in his moral beliefs. He had a generous spirit and great sense of humor. He loved animals, particularly cats. He loved and played basketball and golf. He and Anne traveled extensively while he was well, preferring the unusual and exotic destinations. Their final trip was to Tanzania before his Parkinson’s prevented anticipated trips to the Amazon and Antarctica. The world is a lesser place without his sweet and gentle presence.