Kenneth L Neal

Kenneth Lee Neal passed away in the early morning hours of July 30, 2026. He was born on August 16, 1929, in Tuskegee, OK to John Boyd Neal and Vessie Buie Neal. John Boyd Neal was born in Choska, Indian Territory, Oklahoma.

Kenneth was the oldest of seven siblings: Shola Neavis (1931–2022), who was married to Clyde Huckobey (1929–2003); Winford Arlie (1934–2007), who was married to Sonia Pierini (1937–2011); Allen Eugene (1936–1938); Shirley Arlene (1939– ), who was married to Fermin Vergara (1937–2025); Amelia Ann (1942–2025), who was married to Robert Quaglia; and James Wendell (1945–2014).

After graduating from Dos Palos High School, Kenneth joined the United States Navy in 1948. He was assigned to Interior Communications, an area of work he enjoyed and found challenging. When the Korean conflict began, his tour of duty was extended. Kenneth completed a 14-week Class “A” Interior Communications school and received the Navy Occupation Medal, Korean Service Ribbon, China Service Medal, and United Nations Service Medal.

His commanding officer recognized Kenneth’s abilities and encouraged him to pursue additional schooling and possibly attend the Naval Academy. Kenneth, however, had other plans. After receiving his honorable discharge in May 1952 as an IC2 (Interior Communications Electrician), he used the G.I. Bill to attend Fresno State College, where he pursued a degree in Civil Engineering.

Before graduating from college, Kenneth met Betty Jane Ricci (1929–1987). They were married on January 17, 1954, at the Carmel Mission in Carmel, California. Their son, Michael Jon Neal, was born in August 1955. Their daughter, Barbara Katherine Neal, was born in 1959 and tragically passed away in 1968, just before her ninth birthday. Her loss was devastating to the entire family.

Michael Jon Neal married Claudia F. Langan in 1986. Betty Jane passed away in mid-1987. Later that same year, Kenneth welcomed his grandson John Kenneth Neal, followed by granddaughter Monika Joyce Neal in 1989 and granddaughter Erika Jane Neal in 1995, who later married Hunter Griffin.

In 1989, Kenneth met Christa Teichmann Hitzeman, widow of David Hitzeman (1941–1988), and a new chapter of his life began. They shared 37 years together.

Kenneth began his career in 1958 with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after graduating from Fresno State. He loved the many challenging assignments he was given throughout his career. During the 1960s, he was charged with developing, designing, and establishing a data processing center for the Corps’ Western District. The center provided automated scientific and engineering calculations using FORTRAN (Formula Translation) on an early IBM mainframe computer system.

He retired in September 1990. Retirement gave him time to pursue many of the interests that had always fascinated him. He spent countless hours on the golf course, read extensively, and continued learning about the Civil War, history in general, world conflicts and events, genealogy, and the German language. He never stopped studying, asking questions, and learning something new.

One particularly special subject was learning how to live with—and eventually love—cats.

Kenneth was very pleased to welcome his great-granddaughter, Clara Louise Griffin, who was born in late 2025, into the family. He had been looking forward to celebrating his 97th birthday on August 16, 2026, but sadly, it was not meant to be.

For 37 years, Kenneth was my companion, my friend and the love of my life. I, Christa, will carry his memory with me always.

In closing, I think of the beautiful words associated with Antonín Dvořák, the Czech-Bohemian composer:

“Going home, going home,

I am going home,

Quiet-like, slip away,

I’ll be going home…”

And from the World War II song made famous by Vera Lynn, with music by Ross Parker:

“We’ll meet again,

Don’t know where,

Don’t know when,

But I know we’ll meet again

Some sunny day…”

Kenneth spent his life learning, exploring, remembering and loving. Now he has gone home, leaving behind a lifetime of memories and a family who will love and remember him always.