Robert A. Neal

 WALES- Robert A. Neal, 63, of Wales, died Thursday, April 22, peacefully at home after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on October 6, 1946, the son of the late Russell and Bernice (Yeaton) Neal. He attended Fairview Elementary school and was a member of the 1965 graduating Class at Edward Little. He went on to attend Bates College and the University of Maine. Robert married his high school sweetheart, Linda Higgins, on August 4, 1965. They spent 44 years together and raised four children. Robert was an entrepreneur who spent most of his career building his company, Maine Poly Inc. He started Maine Poly in 1974 in his garage in Wales. The business grew and moved to Greene in 1980. At it's height, Maine Poly employed 250 people throughout the area. He and his partner, Robert Ray, sold the business in 1998. After several years, they went back to work, and Purestat Technologies was born. It thrives today in Lewiston. Robert developed many patents and innovative products in the field of plastics packaging over the years. He was a pioneer in anti-static technology and worked with the military starting with the first gulf war. He loved his work and the people he worked with, they were his second family. He was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt, fish, snowmobile, and garden. He enjoyed his camp in Bottle Lake, up in Eastern Maine, and his annual fishing and hunting adventures to northern Quebec, Labrador, and Nunavik. Robert and Linda loved to travel and were fortunate to have spent time touring the U.S., the Carribean, and Europe, often accompanied by their lifelong friends, Gail and Gary Powell. Robert is survived by his wife, the former Linda Higgins of Wales; his children, Robin McFarren and her husband Scott of Monmouth, Scott Neal and his wife Lynn of Monmouth, Katherine Landry and her husband Paul of Wales, and Rebecca Smith and her husband Aaron of Wales; eleven grandchildren, Courtney and Drew McFarren, Bethany, Robert, Madison, and Ethan Neal, Erynne and Alexandra Landry, Emily and Kirsten Conner, and Gabriel Smith; a brother, Russell Neal and his wife Faye of Wales, his sisters, Beverly Bressler and husband Steven of Minot, and Nancy Larson and husband Al of Old Town; and several nieces and nephews. Robert was predeceased by his daughter, Erin Elizabeth Neal. NOTICE Neal- Died in Wales April 22, 2010. Robert A. age 63 of Wales. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of the Rosary Church. Burial will follow in the family lot in East Wales Cemetery. Those wishing may make donations in Robert’s memory to Androscoggin Home Care 15 Strawberry Ave. P. O. Box 819 Lewiston, Maine 04243-0819. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com . Visitation will be held on Sunday from 5-8 PM at the Pinette & Lynch Funeral Home 305 Alfred A. Plourde Parkway, Lewiston, 207-784-4023.