Bobby Ray "PaPaw" Neal

Bobby Ray "PaPaw" Neal, age 76, resident of Rossville, Georgia, passed away on Thursday, October 2, 2025. Mr. Neal, son of the late James Winford Neal and Dorothy Agnes Mae Stansell Neal, was born September 29, 1949 in Dalton, Georgia. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army where he served his country honorably during the Vietnam Era Conflict. Mr. Neal was a member of Canaan Baptist Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee and former owner of East Ridge Sports. He was a member of the American Legion Post #40 in Ringgold. Mr. Neal worked at Rossville Recreation for many years and was heavily involved with the softball programs in the area as a coach and umpire. He enjoyed playing golf and bingo. Mr. Neal was known as a very dedicated Georgia Football fan as well as an Atlanta Braves fan. He enjoyed traveling with his family and while at home many would see him watching television drama shows. Most of all, he looked forward to spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family remembers him as a well-loved coach and umpire and a true father figure to his family. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, David Neal. Mr. Neal is survived by his wife of 54 years, Gloria Neal; one daughter, Tammi (Larry) Graham; one son, Michael Neal; three grandchildren, Candice (Dylan) Jackson, Celena (Austin) Presnell, and Alysia Graham; three great-grandchildren, Peyton Nave, Elijah Nave, and Weston Presnell; brother-in-law, David Lyons; many other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at the Chapel of W.L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Home, 555 West Cloud Springs Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia on Monday, October 6, 2025, 11 a.m. with Reverend Joe Gill officiating. Interment will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery, Ringgold, Georgia. Active pallbearers will be Austin Presnell, Dylan Jackson, Jonny Lyons, Eric Lyons, Timothy Lyons, and David Lyons. Honorary pallbearers will be Aden Ledford and Michael Neal. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, October 5, 2025 from 4-8 p.m. and also prior to the service on Monday, October 6, 2025 from 10 a.m. till 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or to your local recreation center to help provide support to under privileged kids. Arrangements by W.L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Home, 555 West Cloud Springs Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.