William Neill

William E. “Buddy” Neill, 92, of Brevard, NC passed away peacefully on June 29th, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. He was reunited in Heaven with his loving wife and best friend of 26 years, Carol. He was born on December 2nd, 1922 in Brevard, NC to the late William G. Neill and Bessie C. Neill, both of Brevard, NC. He graduated from Brevard High School in 1941 before joining the Army in March of 1943. He served in the countries of Rhineland (known as the former West Germany), France, and North Africa. He was a military truck driver and mail boy out of the 112th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion running mail, supplies, and soldiers back and forth from the front lines. He was honorably discharged on January 4th, 1946, at the rank of Private First Class. He received the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, and the Croix de Guerre Medal with Palme for his service and individual acts of heroism with his unit, while in combat against non-allied forces in France. Before and after the war, he worked at Olin/Ecusta as an Office boy and Millwright in the Maintenance Department, from which he retired from in the early 80’s. At this time, he began working for Transylvania County Schools as a Special Education Bus Driver/Monitor. He did this alongside his loving wife Carol for over 20 years and finally retired for good in the early 2000’s. From then on he could be found working in his garden or flower beds where he especially loved tending to his beautiful azaleas. At the time of his passing, he found a renewed love and friendship with the family dog Buckeye, whom he called Bozo. They would share food and snacks together and Buckeye would never leave his side. He was preceded in death by his parents William G. Neill and Bessie C. Neill of Brevard, NC; his sister Annie N. Smith of Brevard, NC; his beloved aunt Geneva N. Gillespie and husband Melvin L. Gillespie of Brevard, NC; and his loving wife and best friend Carolyn G. Neill of Brevard, NC. He is survived by his son George L. Neill of Fredericksburg, VA; step children: William B. Combs and wife Vera Combs, of Naples, FL; Jamie L. Fulp and wife Becky M. Fulp of Pisgah Forest, NC; Penny A. Morgan and husband Charlie V. Morgan of Hendersonville, NC; and his grandchildren: Justin L. Fulp, a Fire Control Technician 2nd Class Submariner serving aboard the USS Newport News SSN-750 and wife Madeline G. Fulp of Chesapeake, VA; Kaylee A. Fulp of Pisgah Forest, NC; and Jacob M. Fulp of Pisgah Forest, NC. A memorial service will be held at Grace Baptist Church, 10 W. Holden Road, Brevard, NC 28712, on Friday, July 3rd, at 6:00 pm. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the kind and caring staff of The Lodge at Mills River, Med-Surg unit of Transylvania Regional Hospital, Hospice and Dr. Lana Riemann of Transylvania Regional Hospital, and Moody-Connolly Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com. Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.