Richard Tipton McNeil, Jr.

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Mr. Richard Tipton McNeil Jr., age 94 of North Wilkesboro passed away Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:00 PM Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro with Rev. Patricia Turner officiating.  The family will receive friends from 12:30 PM until 1:45 PM prior to the service at the church.  Burial with Military Honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1142 Honor Guard and the North Carolina National Honor Guard will be in Mountlawn Memorial Park.

He was born on October 10, 1930, in Wilkes County to Richard Tipton and Gladys Graybeal Eller McNeil.  He was President and Manager of North Wilkesboro Bottling Company where he also served as President of the NC Soft Drink Association. He was also President of the Kiwanis Club and was a member and Chairman for the Board of Elections for 14 years. 

He attended Fork Union Military Academy for four years graduating in 1949.  He attended Wake Forest College and while there enlisted in the US Army Reserves and was called to active duty in 1950.  He was honorably discharged in the fall of 1951 and enrolled in National Business College in Roanoke, Va.

Mr. McNeil loved flying and earned his private pilot’s license in 1965.  After 50 years and 4,000 hours as pilot in command and owning 5 airplanes over the years, he sold out and quit flying.  He made many trips to the West Coast and Florida attending fly-ins and air shows where he brought home many trophies and awards for his airplanes.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Nannie Morguenya Roope McNeil, and a sister, Pat Day.

He is survived by daughter, Jackie Wright and husband Todd of Statesville, and granddaughter, Emylee Brown and husband Cameron of Terrell. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 or to Dementia Society of America, 188 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901.

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.  

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