Hugh Robert (Bob) Neill was the son and only child of Hugh Neill and Ruth McMillan Neill from the Van Alstyne area in Grayson County, Texas. He was born on November 23, 1929. He was an intelligent child and when the schoolmarm that was living with the family asked him at the age of four if he wanted to go to school he became a student. He grew up on a farm and assisted with all of the normal chores like milking the cows and plowing lines. He was competitive and wanted to play football, but because he was younger than most of his peers he ended up having to play basketball. Bob graduated from Van Alstyne High School in 1945. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Austin College in Sherman, Texas in 1949. He completed his Master’s Degree in Business Administration at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri in 1965.

Hugh graduated from Austin College and began working in Quality Control at Kraft Foods in Garland, Texas. He worked for Kraft for over 35 years. He began as a Laboratory assistant and retired as the plant manager in Garland. During the years he worked at Kraft he was drafted into the army. He served from 1951 through 1953 achieving the rank of Corporal. Upon his discharge he resumed his job at Kraft.

He met and married his wife Beth Adams in Van Alstyne, Texas in July of 1951. He was supposed to get married on Friday, July 13th, but he ended up being 10 days late because of a flood in Kansas where he was stationed for boot camp. The couple were married for 60 years until Beth’s death in 2011. Their marriage brought three beautiful children into this world, Robert Scott, Vicki Elizabeth, and Shawna Holly, three amazing grandchildren, Jennifer Pirkey, Jon Neill, and Daniel Neill, four fabulous great-grandchildren Lily Campbell, Cheynne Campbell, Bella Cook, and Nolah June Neill, and two wonderful fur-grandbabies, Babe Neill and Tank Neill.

He enjoyed reading and playing golf. He was also a fan of football and 42. He loved to take the family to Colorado on vacation. His favorite place in the house was his recliner where he both worked and slept on occasion. He loved action movies and all types of music. One of his favorite TV shows was All in the Family. His kids secretly thought he occasionally gave the writers lines. He and his wife loved to travel taking trips across the United States and Europe. They sponsored seven foreign exchange students during the years. In his sixties he took up skiing and enjoyed it for as long as his knees held up. He was a member of the Baptist Church. He served on several committees and as a Deacon at First Baptist Church of Plano, Texas. He was a member of the choir and he taught Sunday school for many years. He was a member of the Garland Rotary and served on the board of the Texas Commerce Bank of Garland.

He is preceded in death by his parents Hugh Neill and Ruth Neill, and his wife Margaret Elizabeth Neill.

He is survived by his children: Robert Scott Neill (wife Barbara) of Allen, Texas, Vicki Elizabeth Pirkey (husband David) of Kingwood, Texas, and Shawna Holly Neill of Plano, Texas, grandchildren: Jennifer Elizabeth Campbell (husband Michael) of Cleveland, Texas, Jon Neill (wife Ana Maria) of Frisco, Texas, and Daniel Neill (wife Kim) of Allen,Texas, great-grandchildren: Lily Campbell of Cleveland, Cheyenne Campbell of Cleveland, Texas, Texas, Bella Neill of Allen, Texas, Nolah June Neill of Allen, Texas, and, fur-baby grand children Babe Neill of Plano, Texas and Tank Neill of Plano, Texas, and many extended family members, church family, and life-long friends.

In Lieu of flowers donations can be made in honor of Bob Hugh Robert Neill to Beyond through First Baptist Church Plano or American Diabetes Association.  (FAG)