Donald Arthur Neal
Donald Arthur Neal, 86 of Inglis, FL died Monday July 4, 2016 at his residence. He was born January 4, 1930 in Maple Valley, WA and came here 24 years ago from Lake Park, FL.
He was the son of the late Walter and Pansy (Meacham) Neal. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Virginia Neal, a son Richard Neal, a daughter Caroline Neal and a sister Shirley Cleveland.
He is survived by his Son Doug Neal, a daughter Margaret Neal, his grandchildren; Jessica and Donald Neal and his great granddaughter Hope.
Mr. Neal was a US Air Force veteran and was an integral part of an advisory group that designed and developed the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC); headquartered in South Florida with a test range located off Andros Island in the Bahamas.
As a contractor with TRW Incorporated, Mr. Neal was with the project from its inception in the early 1960’s. He later transitioned to Civil Service working for the Naval Underwater Systems Center Detachment AUTEC.
He served as head of the Range Analysis Branch, Test and Evaluation Department, until he retired in 1991. Mr. Neal’s work in Range Analysis has helped establish and maintain AUTEC as the United States Navy’s premier deep water test range on the east coast to this day.
Earlier in his career, he was part of the first team of scientists and engineers who recovered the first manmade object from space, a film capsule released from a satellite. In keeping with his final wishes, private cremation will take place under the direction of Strickland Funeral Home with Crematory of Crystal River.
