Maj. Ret.

Major Joseph Thomas ONeill U.S.A.F Retired, age 89, died May 7, 2014 in a local hospital. He was born in Manhattan, New York City on July 15, 1924. His family moved to North Central New Jersey in 1931. He completed elementary schooling at L Ecole DU Sacre Coeur, Victoriaville, Province of Quebec, Canada in 1938, and high school in Bernardsville, New Jersey in 1942. He entered the Army of the United States in July of 1943. After completing basic training at Camp Davis, North Carolina, and Camp Gordon, Georgia, he was assigned overseas to the European Theater of Operations and attached to the 395th Infantry Regiment of the 99th Infantry Division, as a rifleman.

He crossed the Rhine River on March 10, 1945 on the Ludendore Bridge at Remagen, Germany. The Ludendorf Bridge, the sole remaining intact bridge across the Rhine, collapsed into the river on March 17th ten days after its capture. He then participated in the elimination of the so called Ruhr Pocket, east of the Rhine River, which was completed on April 16, 1945, when German Resistance ceased in the Saal Hausen Sector. After ten months of occupation duty in Germany, he was discharged from the Army in April of 1946 at Camp Dix, New Jersey, with the rank of Sgt.
Mr. ONeill entered Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey in September of 1946 and graduated in June of 1950 with a B.S. in business administration. He was married the following week, June 10th, to the former Alice Mary Zandanel, his high school sweetheart.

As a result of his World War II service, and other requirements, in October of 1950, he was tendered a direct commission as a Second Lieutenant in the newly formed branch of service, The United States Air Force. He was recalled to active duty and served at eight duty station in the United States. Overseas he was assigned to Korea during the Korean Conflict, and subsequently to locations in Ontario, Canada and Taiwan. His last active duty station was Dyess Air Force Base, where he was assigned as Chief of Military Personnel in 1970. He retired in March of 1974 and was awarded many medals and accommodations during his twentyseven year dedicated career in the military. He elected to remain in Abilene following his retirement. In 1976 he was offered a position as Office and Personnel Manager at Tippett Gee Inc. in Abilene, which he accepted and fulfilled from 1976 until 1988, at which time he retired from that function.

He was member of Sacred Heart Parish in Abilene.
He is survived by his wife, Alice five sons, Brendan, Gregory, Patrick, Dennis, and Daniel and eleven grandchildren

A prayer service will be held Sunday, May 11, 2014 beginning at 4:00 PM with visitation following until 6:00 PM, at Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 Hwy 277 South. The funeral will be 10:00 AM, Monday, May 12, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 837 Jeanette St. Entombment will follow the service at Elmwood Memorial Park.

Visitation

Elmwood Funeral Home
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606
Sunday, May 11, 2014
4:00 to 6:00 PM

Service

Funeral Service

Sacred Heart Catholoic Church
837 Jeanette ST
Abilene, TX  79602
Monday, May 12, 2014
10:00 AM

Cemetery

Elmwood Memorial Park
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606