Linda Moody Neal

On April 16, 2026, loving wife and longtime Tampa resident Linda Mae Moody Neal passed away peacefully at her nephew’s home in Arlington, Texas. She moved back to Texas in 2025 with a heart condition. She is predeceased by her beloved husband, J. Dennis Neal (A1C US Air Force); one sister Jane Oehler, brother-in-law Carl Oehler, and nephew David Oehler of Arlington, Texas. She is also predeceased in death by her Father Lieutenant Colonel William Henry Moody and Mother Peggy Pierce Lindsey Moody; stepdaughters Cynthia Neal who left son, Dennis Michael of Largo, FL and Sharon Lady (Jon) of Plant City, FL. She is survived by nephew Paul Oehler and his children Patrick and Parker of Arlington Texas; fourteen cousins live out of state; stepdaughter Carolyn Motsch (John III) of Pinellas Park, FL and her Step-Grandchildren and 7 Step-Great Grandchildren: Jamie Bardell (Mike), Katelynn Militano (Rocky), Grace Gleason, and Jaqueline Tipton (Brad).

Linda was fun, adventurous, and thoughtful. She was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her father was a brilliant engineer who fought at Guadalcanal, and later the head Project Engineer for H.B. Zachry. Her family often moved after the World War as he built electric power plants & dams throughout Tennessee, Lubbock, San Antonio, and Austin. Linda was a graduate of Tom S. Lubbock (TX) High School. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy and practiced since 1962 as a Registered Pharmacist for 50 years -- holding professional licenses in Texas, Florida, Arkansas, and Tennessee at a time before computers even existed. She was President of Kappa Epsilon-Honorary Fraternity of Women in Pharmacy. She held office in Hillsborough County Pharmaceutical Society, member of Pinellas County Pharmaceutical Association, and 50-year certificate from the Texas Board of Pharmacy.

With her love of genealogy, Linda did extensive research and recording of our country’s founding history. She contributed greatly to many lineage societies. Linda was always happy to learn and make new friends. Among many others, she was Regent to DeSoto Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Colonists, Colonial Dames XVII Century, Jamestowne Society, Huguenot Society, Magna Charta Dames and Barons, United States Daughters of 1812, and Dames of the Court of Honor.

They were members of the “Spares and Pair” class at Hillsborough United Methodist Church in Tampa. Following Dennis’s retirement from Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department, they traveled the entire world on a 1-year trip.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation to her beloved St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html

A visitation will be held at Gonzalez Funeral Home, 7209 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33614 on May 3, 2026 beginning at 3:00 pm with funeral service beginning at 4:00 pm.

Graveside Services will then take place at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513 on May 4, 2026, at 10:00AM.