O'NEAL, Wilford L. (1932-2020)

ONEAL

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/6/2022 at 10:32:36

Wilford Lee O'Neal
(July 7, 1932 - December 17, 2020)

Wilford Lee O’Neal, 88, passed away Thursday, December 17, 2020, in Indianola, IA. Private family services will be held Tuesday, December 29, 2020, at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola. You may join the family on our Livestream beginning at 1p.m. on Wilford’s obituary page of Overton Funeral Home’s website. Burial will follow in the Sandyville Cemetery, Sandyville, IA. A public visitation will be held 2 to 8 p.m., Monday, December 28, 2020 at Overton Funeral Home with family present from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Pleasantville Baptist Church in Willie's name.
Willie was born July 7, 1932, at home in Princeton, Missouri, to parents Leland William Frances O’Neal & Wilma Elizabeth (Foust) O’Neal.
Willie graduated from Indianola High School in 1950. He played basketball for FFA. He “weaved in and out of the players” and “blew a hole in his shoes” in one game.
Willie joined the Air Force in 1952 and served until 1956. While stationed in Fresno, California, around 1952 or 1953, Willie told his buddy he’d like to attend church sometime and his buddy invited Willie to attend with him. Willie accepted the Lord as his personal Savior at the Sunday service. He got baptized at that same time in a horse trough.
Willie met Barbara Flo Danner, his future wife, on October 10, 1956, less than a month after getting out of the Air Force on September 26, 1956. Willie’s sister Jeanette and her friend Delores Cooper set Willie and Flo up on a blind date. Willie and Flo were married less than a year later on August 28, 1957, at the Goshen Baptist Church in Lucas County, Iowa.
After Willie got out of the Air Force, he worked with his Dad on a farm. After he left the farm, he had a varied work history with jobs at Larro Research Farm, the Warren County road crew, Hanover shoe store in Des Moines and Chicago, and a local electrical contractor (Mel Keul). The bulk of his working life was spent working for Armstrong Tire where he worked for 25 years until his retirement. To keep busy after retirement, Willie worked part time at Hunt Farms for several years.
Early in their marriage, Willie and Flo became active members of Indianola Regular Baptist Church in Indianola, Iowa. In November of 1975, they were involved in the start-up of a new church in Pleasantville, Iowa. On January 1, 1976, they became charter members of Pleasantville Baptist Church, and Willie served there as long as his health permitted. Willie served as a deacon in both churches. He was also involved in several other church ministries including the music ministry, the bus ministry and as a Sunday School teacher. For many years, Willie and Flo picked up people in their car and took them to church.
Willie was known for his music, it was not just his hobby, it was his passion. He loved to sing and play his guitar, fiddle and mandolin. He played his guitar at church every Sunday and often provided special music for the services as a soloist and with his children. He constantly made music at home with his family. He enjoyed gospel music and bluegrass festivals where he could “jam” with other bluegrass musicians.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Flo (Danner) O’Neal of 63 years; His seven children, Jeffrey O’Neal, Kimberly (Sam) Crabtree, Lavonna (Mark) Arms, Barbara (Ronnie) Hunt, Rita (Scott) Updyke, John (Kara) O’Neal and Andrew (Lanette) O’Neal; his twenty grandchildren, Jacob (Audrey) Crabtree, John Crabtree, Michael Crabtree, Joseph Arms, David Arms, Nathan (Nicole) Hunt, Stephanie (Daniel) Gardner, Abby (Ryan) Austin, Daniel Updyke, Rachel Updyke, William Updyke, Hannah O'Neal, Kathleen O'Neal, Jonathan O'Neal, Samuel O'Neal, Emily O'Neal, Stephen O'Neal, Brannon O'Neal, Caitrin O'Neal, Maegan O'Neal; his seven great-grandchildren, Penelope Crabtree, Theodore Crabtree, Anna Hunt, Ryan Hunt, Audriella Gardner, Elise Gardner, Leland Claussen. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings Jeanette Curnes and Gary O’Neal.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be given to the Pleasantville Baptist Church in his name. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/