Robert Lee O'Neal

Robert Lee O'Neal, born March 29, 1933 in Wiggins Colorado. His mother was 16 years old and Bob was premature and not expected to live. His grandmother carried him around on a small pillow. He could only keep down Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk. His biological father never met Bob. His grandparents raised him in Shendoah, Iowa. he left us June 20, 2014 at 5:00AM. His brain is being donated to OHSU for research purposes.

He attended sunnyside Grade School in Portland, then Benson Tech High School. Leaving before graduation to join the Air Force in May 1950 thru May 1954. Was during the Korean war, his duty was Radar Mechanic. He received the Korean Service Medal, United States Strat Recon Sv Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and National Defense Medal.

He lived in a board house of his best friend, Charles Von Wald. His mom had remarried two times after divorce. So Bob really never had a father figure. His mother loved him dearly as he did her. He played symphony trumpet like Harry James played, but he never played for me.

He was engaged once before he met his bride to be in 1958. Martha being 15 years and Bob 25. He had to wait for three years for Martha to reach legal age to be married. Which he did in Hope Presbyterian Church, Portland, June 3, 1961.

Bob was working as a grocery clerk for Fred Meyer, and actually met the man several times. He attended tech school in downtown Portland, and the Government came out and recruited many of his fellow classmates. We moved to the home area base in Virgina outside of the Washington DC area. Until assigned to Frankfurt, Germany in 1969. One year spent there, with lateral to Okinawa for three and a half years. He was an electronic tech in communications. Then returned to the United States for two years, then assigned to State Department to Islamabad, Pakistan.

Then after that tour, which fulfilled requirements for early retirement, we spent ten years in Woodbridge, VA, in our home we purchased there. Then in 1986, he retired, we celebrated our 25th anniversary, our daighter Lemel graduated from high school, and we packed out within a weeks time.

Our daughter we were fortunate enough to adopt from Holt Agency in Soule, Korea, while stationed in Okinawa. She was 15 months old. Her name is a combination of our two middle names, Lee, and mine if Mel. We have five generations of Mels' in the family.

We moved back to Portland in 1986 and bought the house I still live in. Lemel moved out and married about a year later. Bob is survived by his wife Martha Mel (Wheaton), daighter Lemel (O'Neal) Moyer. Son in law Robert A. Moyer, grandchildren Arielle M. Moyer and Austin A. Moyer ans Ashlyn Moyer. Two brother in laws and spouses.

I sent him back to work when he retired as he had NO hobbies, so ended up going to sales school. He got hired at Standard Hoist and Wench in Portland. When downsizing happened, he contacted customers, one of which a church member and owner of Mitchell's RV in Sandy. And got a job with Mitchell's RV in Sandy, OR. When that closed, he got hired back at Standard, I was his agent. He worked part time with his job until two years ago. Even while placed in an independent living facility in 2011.

He fought this insidious disease for three years. He also recieved his Bachlor's Degree from University of Maryland, via correspondence. Graduation in Tokyo, Japan. He also held and H & R Income License, and a Realtor License in the state of Virgina.