John W. O’Neal, 83, West Point grad taught at academy
March 7, 2022
John William O’Neal of Pawleys Plantation, a West Point graduate who returned to the military academy to teach during a 20-year Army career, died March 7 at the hospital in Mount Pleasant. He was 83.
He was born Oct. 5, 1938, in Chattanooga, Tenn., the son of Gordon R. and Hazel Williams O’Neal. He grew up at the foot of Lookout Mountain. He graduated from Chattanooga’s City High School, where he was crowned May King and was named Best All-Around Boy by the Class of 1956. John was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated with a degree in engineering in 1962. He earned a master’s degree in English in 1971 from the University of Pennsylvania.
As an Army Airborne Ranger, Mr. O’Neal served tours in Aschaffenburg, Germany, and two tours in Vietnam, where he was awarded two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Air Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.
After Vietnam and tours at Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Dix, N.J., Mr. O’Neal returned to West Point to serve as an instructor and assistant professor of English from 1971 to 1974. He was then assigned to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., to attend the Army Command and General Staff College, graduating in 1975. This was followed by tours to the Republic of Korea, where he served in the demilitarized zone, and the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala.
Mr. O’Neal finished his 20-year Army career with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1982 to pursue a successful career in the private sector.
Mr. O’Neal had many loves including movies and music from all decades. He was particularly fond of KC & the Sunshine Band, ABBA, Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family”, all the James Bond film scores and many other musical genres. Following a demanding day at the office, he could often be found relaxing with a good cigar or his favorite pipe while sipping a Beefeater Gibson. He and his wife enjoyed entertaining and cooking as members of a gourmet dinner club while residing in Centreville, Va.
Mr. O’Neal was an accomplished writer and a gifted storyteller. His greatest joys were spending time with his family, friends, retired military classmates, commanding the grill and cooking his steaks to medium-rare perfection while reminiscing of a life well lived.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Terry Shackleford O’Neal; his children, John W. O’Neal II (Lisa) of Peoria, Ariz., Rebecca A. O’Neal of Ringgold, Ga., Gordon V. “Van” O’Neal (Madeline) of Bristow, Va., and Matthew A. O’Neal of Charles Town, W.Va.; his stepchildren, Tracy C. Summer (Michael) of Georgetown, Christopher D. Conner (Kaley) of Boone, N.C., and Heather C. Cole (Carper) of Pawleys Island; his grandchildren, Gracie and Garrett O’Neal, Jack and Ben O’Neal, Conner (Mary Kathryn) and Caroline Summer, Kendall C. (Mat) Moretz; Reed, Barrett and Tucker Conner, David C. “Buck” Cole, and Justin King and Bailey Rogers; his great-grandchildren, Madyson and Noble Moretz; his siblings, Michael O’Neal (Miriam) and Susie O’Neal Strohmeyer; his nieces, Anne O’Neal Jaeger and Tracy Land-Belknap; and his nephews, Tim and Eric Crooks and Jay C. Land.
His in-laws, Leota Meyers and Tom Shackleford, and nephew, Michael Creighton O’Neal, died before him.
A celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Burroughs Funeral Home.
Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation (t2t.org).
Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.
