NAAA eNewsletter - 05/10/2019

NAAA and the ag aviation industry are saddened by the loss of longtime member Larry Neal, who passed away peacefully on May 7 in Lubbock, Texas. Neal, 72, had been in the agricultural aircraft and general aviation industry for more than 45 years. He established Neal Aircraft in Slaton, Texas, in the 1980s, where he sold Piper Pawnees and Braves before becoming an Air Tractor dealer.

Larry’s Life

Larry Thatcher Neal was born in Lubbock, Texas, in 1946 and graduated from Lubbock High School in 1965. Spending time outside of school with his father Roy Neal, who worked in the aviation industry, sparked Larry’s passion for airplanes and flying at an early age. Larry showed an early love for the outdoors as well. As a member of the Boy Scouts of America, he earned its highest rank of Eagle Scout. Before graduating from high school, Larry obtained his pilot’s certificate before he graduated from high school.

He began working with his dad while starting college at Texas Tech University in the fall of 1965. He took a leave of absence from school in 1969 when he walked out of a final and enlisted in the United States Army. Larry served one tour in Vietnam in 1969 and ’70 as an air traffic controller at a small air base near the border of Cambodia called Tay Ninh. After returning from Vietnam, he completed his service at Fort Rucker in Alabama. He returned to Lubbock to complete his accounting degree at Texas Tech and graduated in 1973. Soon after he met Melanie Waters and they married on Aug. 23, 1975.

Larry began working at Wes-Tex Aircraft with his dad where he sold airplanes, taught flying lessons and chartered flights. In 1987 after his father retired, Larry moved and started Neal Aircraft at Slaton Municipal Airport where he became a certified Air Tractor dealer and airport manager. He became highly involved in agricultural aviation and was well known in the region for his knowledge of aircraft.

Along with serving his customers and the agricultural aviation industry for four decades, Larry served his community in many ways. He was a member of The Lubbock Rotary and Slaton Lions Club, sang in the First United Methodist Church choir, taught children’s Sunday school and coached many of his children’s sports teams. Larry had a passion for all things involving airplanes, but he also had many other hobbies. He loved the outdoors and spent much of his spare time fishing, hunting, gardening and camping.

Larry is survived by his wife, Melanie Waters Neal; his children and their spouses Robert and Cory Neal, Jeremy and Ginger Barbee, and Sam and Holly Mercer; a brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Carolyn Neal; and a sister, Joann Neal; six nephews, three nieces, and nine beloved grandchildren.

Service Information

A memorial service celebrating Larry Neal’s life will be held at First United Methodist Church in Lubbock on May 17 at 10:30 a.m. CT. Visitation will take place before the service at 9:30 a.m. in the parlor.