Neal Watson Moran

Neal Moran was born in Simpson, WV on March 20, 1928 to Everett and Doris Moran. He graduated from Flemington HS in 1946 and entered the United States Air Force in 1949. After graduating from pilot training in 1950, he served in Korea, evacuating wounded soldiers to Japan. From Japan, he flew missions in the Far East and Middle East until 1953. Afterwards, he was a B-47 Aircraft Commander (Pilot) and Command Post Controller in various locations for SAC (Strategic Air Command) until 1964 when he was chosen to attend the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA. Neal then became a B-52 Aircraft Commander and subsequently B-52 Squadron commander. He served in Vietnam as a B-52 pilot flying combat missions out of Guam during several tours of duty from 1965 to 1968. His last assignment was as an Air Targets Officer at SAC Headquarters where he retired in August 1969 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Neal met Phyllis Arndt of Milwaukee, WI on a blind date in 1953 and they married in January 1954. Over their 64 years together, they moved 16 times as a military family before settling in Charlotte, NC after Neal retired from the Air Force. He then began a new career as a Manufacturers' Representative for Electrical Suppliers covering North Carolina and Virginia. Neal was a caring, loving, man who never met a stranger. Once you met him, he remembered your name and whatever you had told him about yourself. He was always ready to help anyone who asked. He loved God, his wife, Phyllis, his family, his country, his friends, and the flag. To quote a longtime friend of his, "He was the epitome of what it means to be a through and through good and kind person - a true and rare gentle-man." Neal was a decades long member of St. Stephen UMC in Charlotte. He served on many committees over the years and was a charter member of the Fellowship Class. He was a driver for Friendship Trays, a meal delivery program for the elderly and infirm, until his 90th birthday. He was very proud of St. Stephen UMC. Neal passed away on May 26, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, his children Mike Moran (Carla) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Andrea Manos (Theodore) of Woodstock, GA, and Joel Moran (Marcia) of Wake Forest, NC, and six grandchildren, James and Kevin Manos, Jake and Jared Moran, and Shauna and Madeline Moran. A Memorial Service celebrating the life and light of Neal Moran will be held on Sunday, June 3 at 2:30 P.M. at St. Stephen UMC, 6800 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC 28270. The service will be live streamed on the church website: www.ststephenumc.net. Memorial donations may be made to St. Stephen UMC Endowment Fund at the same street address. Celebration of Life Sunday, June 3, 2018 2:30 PM St. Stephen United Methodist Church 6800 Sardis Rd. Charlotte NC 28270 United States 7043641824 http://www.ststephenumc.net/