Mrs. Ruby Kathleen Neel

1916 - 2013

Mrs. Ruby Kathleen Neel, 97, of 9410 Ernest Drive, Frederick, died Sunday, Aug. 11, at Frederick Memorial Hospital.

Born June 13, 1916, in Tazewell Co., Virginia, she was the daughter of the late William Walter Leffel and Mary Rebecca Elizabeth Hornbarger Leffel. She was the last of her immediate family.

She was married in Bluefield, VA, on March 23, 1935, to the late Earnest Dewey Neel, who passed away in 1999. They were married for 63 years.

Mrs. Neel retired from American Optical Co., June 30, 1978, after 21 years of service. She loved gardening, quilting and taking care of her family.

Surviving are four children, Donald W. Neel and wife Barbara, Charles E. Neel and wife Joan, Dixie C. Simmons and husband Kenneth, all of Frederick, and Teresa D. Dankmeyer and husband Jerry of Keedysville, 11 grandchildren, Monty Neel, Karen Wilcom, Donna Sweeney, Tina Johnson, Kelli Dawson, Wendy Nalborczyk, Michael Simmons, Troy Gladhill, and Brian, Andrew and Christopher Dankmeyer, 18 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Neel will also be remembered by one son-in-law, Richard E. Gladhill Sr. of Frederick; and one special niece, Barbara Fouche of Frederick; and special friends Sandy and Henrick Johansen, Max Baer and his late wife Kaye; and Bonnie and Frank Nestor.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Neel was preceded in death by one daughter, Alfreda Gladhill in 1996; three brothers, Sherman, George and Clyde Leffel and one sister, Nelvia Neel.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm Wednesday, Aug. 14 at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, where funeral services will begin at 11 am on Thursday, Aug. 15. The Rev. Tim May will officiate.

Interment will be in Resthaven Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to Homewood at Crumland Farms, 7407 Willow Road, Frederick, MD 21702 or a charity of one's choice.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at staufferfuneralhome.com.