March 1, 2025, 91, Pikeville —
John Worth McNeill, 91, passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at The Indigo in Pikeville. John was born in Johnston County to the late John Worth McNeill and Sara Oda Faircloth McNeill on April 30, 1933. He was known to many as John, as well as Mac, Bud, Jack, Brother and Pops. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Nancy Anne Thomas McNeill. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Bobby McNeill, Reuben McNeill, and sisters, Ann Watkins, Dorothy Peele and Shirley Owens.
Leaving his rural farming childhood, John lived his dream proudly serving as a flight engineer with the United States Air Force for 20 years. He will always be remembered for his patriotism. He protected his country and her allies on multiple deployments, serving in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Thailand as well as Goose Bay, Labrador during the Cuban Missile Crisis. John’s valor and skill was recognized with numerous decorations. He enjoyed living in a community of those who, like him, served in the military.
Following his retirement, John and Nancy, along with her brother Ray Thomas and his wife Audrey, built a successful business selling televisions and appliances at Adamsville TV. Most of the early business was in serving base personnel and their families. After 25 extremely successful years, he retired from the retail and repair business. He spent the following years traveling extensively with his wife in their RV, enjoying several trips to Alaska. He and Nancy were proud to have visited all 50 states and Puerto Rico and Canada.
John was deeply dedicated to his church and church family. He was a member of New Hope Church in Goldsboro for over 50 years, serving in a number of leadership roles including trustees, and taught Sunday school well into his 80’s. He and Nancy worked on a number of teams building and expanding churches in Alaska. He was deeply devoted to the work of the men’s group and spent many years helping lead in the fair booth ministry at New Hope.
The family will receive friends at New Hope Church at 11:00 am, Wednesday, March 5, 2025, to be followed by a service at 12:00 pm in the sanctuary with Rev. Stephen M. Wellman officiating. Interment with full military honors will be on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in the Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.
He is survived by his daughter, Anne McNeill Kosuda and husband, Joseph of Goldsboro; sons, Robert Bruce McNeill and wife, Jean of Dudley; Gary Worth McNeill and wife, Kathy of Timmonsville, SC; grandchildren, Amber Lynn McNeill Lee and husband, Andy of Timmonsville, SC; Matthew McNeill and wife, Sarah, of Winston-Salem; Kelli Kosuda Tingen and husband, Larry of Goldsboro; Kaitlyn Kosuda Dean and husband, Brandon of Goldsboro; and Robert Wilson of Mt. Olive; and great-grandchildren, Alice, Peter, Jackson, Frankie and Elijah. John is also survived by his sisters, Peggy M. West of Lillington; brothers, Jimmy McNeill of Moulton, AL, Tommy McNeill of Lillington, Odell McNeill of Lillington, and Julius McNeill of Lillington and brother in law Robert Thomas, and sister in law Audrey Thomas
The family would like to thank the staff and leadership of The Indigo in Pikeville for their loving care of their father. They would also like to thank Anselma Cisneros and Olivia Padilla who were his personal caregivers, and gave him compassionate and Christian care.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in his memory to New Hope Church, 200 E. New Hope Road, Goldsboro, NC 27534.
Services are entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
