Dwight Neel

Dwight Neel was born June 30, 1933 in Peggs, OK to Jay and Rebecca Bradley Neel . Dwight, his brother, JC, and his parents all lived in Peggs where Dwight attended Oak Hill School. They lived along Spring Creek where Dwight and his brother, JC played at the creek all summer long. Later his brother, Kenneth was born and then a sister, Jackie. When he was in the 5th grade they moved to Tulsa, as his father was working at Douglas Aircraft at the time. He attended John Ross Elementary, Cleveland Junior High, then East Central and Rogers High School. While attending high school he played on the school basketball team.

Dwight held several jobs as a teenager, and one of them was for Bond Bread. After high school, he decided to go to California with an uncle, as he had several relatives living there and they regaled him with the big money they were making there. However, he became homesick and came home. A short time, thereafter, he was drafted into the army and was sent to Fort Hood, Texas where he served two years from 1953 to 1955.

In 1956, he met his bride-to-be, Virginia Stonecipher and they were married January 19, 1957. Their daughter, Deborah was born December 30, 1958 and son, Randell was born, May 22, 1962. Then Lisa came along February 23, 1965 and Tina on May 30, 1966.

When he returned home from the army, he work for Glencliff Dairy and worked there until he went into the vending business in 1966. He owned and operated Neel Automatic Vending Co. for 15 or 20 years. He also owned Razorback Vending in Springdale, Arkansas for several years.
After he was married he started rebuilding cars in his garage. He had a love for old cars, and shortly decided to devote his time to rebuilding antique cars. He did this while continuing to run his vending businesses.

He was a member of the Early Ford V-8 club for over 30 years and made many friends there. The family enjoyed many trips to car shows, auctions and to swap meets due to his involvement with old cars.

Dwight is survived by wife, Virginia of the home; daughter, Deborah Bryn of Catoosa; son, Randy Neel of Broken Arrow; daughter, Lisa Whitman of Broken Arrow; daughter, Tina LaRoche and husband, Lance of Fort Smith, AR; grandchildren: Aarick Walters of Catoosa, Stephanie Leggett of Catoosa, Preston Long of Springdale, AR, Kevin Drake of Tulsa, Bailey Whitman of Broken Arrow, Paige Thompson of Tulsa, Casey Neel of Broken Arrow, Kameron Whitman of Broken Arrow, Brandy Neel of Tulsa, Lane LaRoche of Fort Smith; step grandchildren: Ashley Houston, Colton LaRoche and Logan LaRoche of Fort Smith, Brandon Whitman of Tulsa; great grandchildren: Andrew Throroughman, Cooper Leggett, Lexie Walters, Ruby Walters and Christopher Walters all of Catoosa, Caleb Drake, Carter Drake and Curtis Drake all of Tulsa, and Isabella Wells of Tulsa.