Official Obituary of
Heidt Fortson Neal
July 24, 1938 ~ March 11, 2018 (age 79) 79 Years Old
Heidt Neal Obituary
Heidt Fortson Neal, III, 79, died on Sunday, March 11, 2018 in Columbus, Georgia at Orchard View Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, March 15, 2018 at St. Luke United Methodist Church with Bishop Benjamin Michael Watson and Reverend Robert Beckum officiating. The family will receive friends in Stockwell Hall immediately following the service held in the St Luke United Methodist Church sanctuary. A private graveside service will be held at Parkhill Cemetery according to McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Heidt lived in Columbus all of his life. He was born July 24, 1938 to the late Heidt Fortson Neal, Jr and Helen Haygood Clark Neal in Columbus, Georgia. He graduated from Columbus High School in 1956 and the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1960 with a BS degree in Industrial Management. After graduating from Navy OCS in Newport, Rhode Island in 1960, Heidt attained the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, where he served three years as Operations CIC Officer and Combat Air Controller. Heidt was deployed on three tours of duty to the Mediterranean.
Heidt married Sarah Elizabeth "Libba" Lee Neal from Dothan, Alabama in 1963. Following the last six months of Heidt's military service at Boca Chica Air Base, Key West, Florida, the couple returned to Columbus where Heidt joined his father in the family business, Neal-Gentry Tire Company. A huge supporter of local business, Heidt developed a large and loyal customer base in the Georgia region. He and his brother Clark purchased the two store locations in Columbus and Albany (operated as Albany General Tire Company) from their father in 1976, forming a new corporation, Neal Brothers Tire Company. In 2006, Heidt and younger brother Larry built a new Columbus facility on Second Avenue, moving from the original First Avenue location established in 1951. The Neal family has actively sold and serviced tires in Columbus since 1930, when automobiles first appeared in the area.
Heidt was a life-long member of St Luke United Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher in the Youth Department for thirty-five years. He had been active in the Columbus Jaycees, Kawanis Club of Columbus, Columbus Country Club, Georgia Tech Athletic Boosters, Georgia Tire Dealers Association, and was an original founding member of the B&B Investment Club.
Heidt was preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years. Surviving relatives include his daughters Lee Neal Bush (Lane) of Bainbridge, Georgia, and Margaret "Margie" Neal Norman (Steve) of Columbus, Georgia, six grandchildren Sarah Margaret Bush, Kay Elizabeth Bush, Taylor Lane Bush, Steven Rae "Tripp" Norman, III, Heidt Neal Norman, and Elizabeth "Bebe" Patricia Norman, siblings Patricia Neal Page (Henry) of Albany, Georgia, William Clark Neal (Mollie) of Newton, Georgia, Helen Neal Kleiber (Donald) of Sky Valley, Georgia, and Larry Hughes Neal (Helen) of Columbus, Georgia, dear friend Charlotte Alexander "Alex" Saunders of Columbus, Georgia, as well as ten beloved nieces and nephews. Special thanks to caregivers Bren Moultrie, Frances Ross, Monica Evans, Stephanie Bell and Debi Neese for their love and dedication in Heidt's final months.
Heidt leaves behind many close friends developed through years of zealous bird hunting and many other outdoor activities. He also held a special place in his heart for his Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and his Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers, with whom he reunited annually for nearly sixty years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of St Luke United Methodist Church at P.O. Box 867, Columbus, GA 31902.
1104 2nd Ave
Columbus, ga, 31901
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, March 15, 2018 at St. Luke United Methodist Church with Bishop Benjamin Michael Watson and Reverend Robert Beckum officiating. The family will receive friends in Stockwell Hall immediately following the service held in the St Luke United Methodist Church sanctuary. A private graveside service will be held at Parkhill Cemetery according to McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Heidt lived in Columbus all of his life. He was born July 24, 1938 to the late Heidt Fortson Neal, Jr and Helen Haygood Clark Neal in Columbus, Georgia. He graduated from Columbus High School in 1956 and the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1960 with a BS degree in Industrial Management. After graduating from Navy OCS in Newport, Rhode Island in 1960, Heidt attained the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, where he served three years as Operations CIC Officer and Combat Air Controller. Heidt was deployed on three tours of duty to the Mediterranean.
Heidt married Sarah Elizabeth "Libba" Lee Neal from Dothan, Alabama in 1963. Following the last six months of Heidt's military service at Boca Chica Air Base, Key West, Florida, the couple returned to Columbus where Heidt joined his father in the family business, Neal-Gentry Tire Company. A huge supporter of local business, Heidt developed a large and loyal customer base in the Georgia region. He and his brother Clark purchased the two store locations in Columbus and Albany (operated as Albany General Tire Company) from their father in 1976, forming a new corporation, Neal Brothers Tire Company. In 2006, Heidt and younger brother Larry built a new Columbus facility on Second Avenue, moving from the original First Avenue location established in 1951. The Neal family has actively sold and serviced tires in Columbus since 1930, when automobiles first appeared in the area.
Heidt was a life-long member of St Luke United Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher in the Youth Department for thirty-five years. He had been active in the Columbus Jaycees, Kawanis Club of Columbus, Columbus Country Club, Georgia Tech Athletic Boosters, Georgia Tire Dealers Association, and was an original founding member of the B&B Investment Club.
Heidt was preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years. Surviving relatives include his daughters Lee Neal Bush (Lane) of Bainbridge, Georgia, and Margaret "Margie" Neal Norman (Steve) of Columbus, Georgia, six grandchildren Sarah Margaret Bush, Kay Elizabeth Bush, Taylor Lane Bush, Steven Rae "Tripp" Norman, III, Heidt Neal Norman, and Elizabeth "Bebe" Patricia Norman, siblings Patricia Neal Page (Henry) of Albany, Georgia, William Clark Neal (Mollie) of Newton, Georgia, Helen Neal Kleiber (Donald) of Sky Valley, Georgia, and Larry Hughes Neal (Helen) of Columbus, Georgia, dear friend Charlotte Alexander "Alex" Saunders of Columbus, Georgia, as well as ten beloved nieces and nephews. Special thanks to caregivers Bren Moultrie, Frances Ross, Monica Evans, Stephanie Bell and Debi Neese for their love and dedication in Heidt's final months.
Heidt leaves behind many close friends developed through years of zealous bird hunting and many other outdoor activities. He also held a special place in his heart for his Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and his Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers, with whom he reunited annually for nearly sixty years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of St Luke United Methodist Church at P.O. Box 867, Columbus, GA 31902.
Memorial Service
MAR 15. 11:00 AM (EDT)
St. Luke United Methodist Church1104 2nd Ave
Columbus, ga, 31901
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