PENSACOLA, Fla. — William Elwood “Woodie” Neece, 92, of Lillian, Ala., passed away Monday, October 6, 2014, at Covenant Hospice in West Florida Hospital, Pensacola, Fla., due to complications of diabetes.
Born April 5, 1922 in Elizabethton, Tenn., to the late Joe and Eliza Ritchie Neece, he had one brother, John H. “Tommy” Neece and wife Norma, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Sandra Elliott Neece.
Mr. Neece was married in Canton, Ohio on June 16, 1948 to Etta Jane Buchanan. He graduated from Unaka High School and joined the Navy in July 1940. He was commissioned as a Warrant Officer in June 1960. He served with honor and retired as a CWO2 in January 1962. He loved the Navy and was proud of his service. He was a member of USS Altair Plank Owners Association and traveled to numerous reunions throughout the United States. He enjoyed telling stories of his service and the Navy life he and Janie experienced. He retired from WCYB TV in June 1987 as a TV Transmitter Operator on Holston Mountain, Tenn., and was the owner/operator of Neece’s Grocery on Stoney Creek, Tenn., for many years.
He moved to Lillian, Ala., permanently in 1987 after RVing with Janie throughout the U.S.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mrs. Etta Jane Buchanan Neece, of the home; three children, Jeffory L. Neece, Huntsville, Ala., Jonathan “Greg” Neece, Lillian, Ala., and Cherie I. Neece, Lillian, Ala.; four grandchildren, Jeffory “Matt” Neece, Elizabethton, Tenn., Amy L. Neece (Thomas Dixon), Columbia, S.C., William “Willie” Neece, (Kristen S. Childs), Huntsville, Ala., and Rebecca N. Neece, Lillian, Ala.; five great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be Saturday, October 11, from 2 p.m. until the funeral service begins at 3 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South. Officiating will be Josh Thompson of First Baptist Church of Lillian. A reception will follow at the family home. Interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Fla., on Monday, October, 13, at 11 a.m. Honorary pallbearers will be Norman Peters, Chris Howe, Richard Sutton, Jessie Harris, Pete Thrift, Matthew Neece and Willie Neece. A heartfelt Thank You to Dr. George Antonious, Dr. Katharina Meyer, the staff at Davita West Pensacola, Specialty Care Center of Pensacola and the staff of West Florida Hospital for their many years of care.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South, 100 Beverly Parkway, Pensacola, Fla., is in charge of arrangements. You may express your condolences online at www.fcfhs.com