Trudy Ann O'Neil

She was born and raised in Heimbach, Germany, a small town near the French border, the only child of Karl and Erna (Laub) Grimm.

She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Henry R. O’Neil, Colonel,

USA (Ret), her son Brian G. O’Neil of Williamsburg (Ramona), her

Daughter, Debra Joseph S. Mastaler, Jr. (O’Neil), four grandchildren, Trey Mastaler, Mary Katherine Aidan Rockwood (Mastaler), Casey Patrick Tuskey (O’Neil), Shannon Noah Bodey (O’Neil) and 3 Great Grandchildren (Adeline, Bennet and Elliott Bodey).

The early years of Trudy’s life, the1930s, were torn by a World Depression and the horrors of WWII. As a teenager, Trudy interned as a pharmacist and later was employed by the US Armed Forces Commissary System in Baumholder, Germany, where, in 1955, she met her future husband, army Lt Henry (Hank) O’Neil. They were married in 1957, in the Baumholder Army Chapel and shortly, thereafter, set sail on the USS Patch, a WWII troop transport ship, across the fridge Atlantic for the United States and then on to Fort Hood, Texas, truly her first adventure as a devoted and supported Army wife.

Over the years, as a member of her husband’s team, at every level of his career, she would pack up and move her children to dozens of duty stations in the US and Europe, always viewing each move as an adventure and an opportunity to volunteer her services, whether as a “Soccer Mom”, Red Cross Helper or a member of various local community’s social and support groups.

Trudy loved to travel and was an avid reader and golfer, who cherished her years as a member of the Kingsmill Ladies Nine Hole, golf group and, later, as an active member of Patriots Colony Continuous Care Retirement Community. She was a loving and caring wife, mother and friend, full of life’s and caring and its challenges. She will be greatly missed by all.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Bede Catholic Church on October 30, 2026 at 12:00 PM.

Inurnment, in the Saint Bede Columbarium, will follow the service. Guests are invited to join the family for a light buffet/reception in the Saint Bede, Kaplan Center.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her honor may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, c/o Patriots Colony at 6000 Patriots Colony Drive, Williamsburg, Va 23188. Arrangements by Nelsen Funeral Home. www.Nelsenwilliamsburg.com (757) 565-114.