Kenneth Neal

 

 

Kenneth Floyd Neal, age 84, was released from this life on Friday, February 10, 2023 at his residence on Tierra Linda Ranch, which he had called home since 1996. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Neal, of Richland, Washington preceded him in death.

Born in Long Beach, California, Kenneth graduated from Richland High School in Richland, Washington in 1957, then traveled down South to attend Memphis State University, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He interrupted his studies to serve in the United State Air Force during the Vietnam War. After his discharge he continued his academic pursuits at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington, earning his degree in Accounting in 1967.

Ken then embarked upon a career with the Internal Revenue Service as a revenue agent in the Seattle District Office. He was later selected as one of only twelve candidates nationwide for a special management internship program at the IRS National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. There he served in advanced management positions and was named to head up a new organization to develop, direct, and manage the IRS Tax Systems Redesign effort. After retiring from the IRS in 1991 Kenneth was engaged by KPMG Peat Marwick as a consultant to assist the Ministry of Finance for Egypt in modernizing the Egyptian tax system; he later provided his tax expertise and extensive data processing experience to the governments of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and India.

Ken Neal was a true Renaissance Man, interested in and knowledgeable in an astonishing range of subjects; he never stopped learning. He had a passion for old time radio from a young age and was a very active member of the Metropolitan Washington Old Time Radio Club of Washington, D.C. That club honored him with the Stan Cawelti Memorial Award for his efforts in advancing interest in Old Time Radio. He amassed an impressive collection of radio shows, which he later donated to the University of Memphis Department of Communications. After retiring he pursued interests in woodturning and ceramics in keeping with his artistic talents - always curious, always learning, always making new and interesting friends. He possessed a rapier wit - you could tell when a well-aimed comment had hit its target by the twinkle in his eye.

Ken always maintained that a husband’s biggest priority was to make his wife happy, and he honored that commitment every day of his marriage to Barbara, whom he met in Memphis in 1973. Their marriage of forty-two years was the best part of their fifty year love affair - a love affair that does not end with his passing.

Others left to cherish Ken’s memory include a sister, Elizabeth Ann Brinkman and her husband, George, of Sebring, Florida and Guelph, Ontario, Canada; daughters, Gina Conaway and husband, Boyd, of Houston, and Shannon Tobias of Houston; twin granddaughters, Gabrielle Hooper of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Renee Hooper of Austin, Texas; granddaughter, Madison Tobias and grandson, Cameron Tobias, both of College Station, Texas; and the many friends he made in Texas.

 

GRAVESIDE SERVICE
MONDAY, April 24, 2023

11:OO A.M.

FT. SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

SHELTER NUMBER 4