Mr. Curtis Lee O’Neal, age 89, of Alston, died Saturday, September 10, 2022, at his home after a brief illness. He was born February 12, 1933 in Ludowici, Long County, and was the second of six children born to Andrew Jackson O’Neal II and Annie Belle Beasley. He joined the Navy in 1950 and was stationed aboard the Richard B. Anderson as a gunner, and then aboard the USS Stoddard as a medical corpsman. He served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1955 and was on inactive duty until 1959.
He received his M.B.A. degree from San Diego State College and a law degree from Kennedy-Western University. He worked at N.C. Roberts and Horwith and Horwith in San Diego, California before moving to Orlando, Florida in 1963 where he worked for A.T. Contella as an office manager. He later worked as a residential auditor for Della-Donna, CPA/Attorney in Fort Lauderdale, Florida before buying out an accounting practice where he was self-employed until March of 1981 when he incorporated O’Neal and Associates, Inc. He was a member of the Florida Society of Accountants and Tax Professionals, and at one point he served as comptroller of the association and prepared bylaws for the association. He retired in 2006.
Curtis loved riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and rode the small version and the fully dressed version. He raced with Steve McQueen, Brad Anders, Kyle Smith, Dexter Campbell and many others. He loved riding trail bikes and entering enduro races. He also had a commercial pilot’s license, which he used for making charter flights, as well as flying for several airlines. He played lead guitar for several bands in California and was a member of the Musician’s Union. He also played with bands in Orlando, Florida, and in a band while in the Navy and stationed overseas. He loved fishing and fished in pro-am tournaments with Larry Townsend.
After retiring, he was able to devote his time to genealogy. He had started in 1968 by compiling information on his family whenever he went for family visits. After moving to Georgia, genealogy became a full time job. He wrote several stories about different families and had the stories published in books. He also published genealogy books for the O’Neal, Sharpe, Conner, Partin, Hathcock, Allen and Barnes families
Curtis was a Baptist by faith, and was a devout God-fearing man who tried to live each day of his life as a true Christian. He was a member of the Moose Lodge as well as several other organizations. He is preceded in death by his wife of sixty-two years, Wilma Jean O’Neal; parents, Andrew Jackson O’Neal II and Annie Bell Beasley O’Neal; and siblings, Andrew Lee O’Neal II, Louray O’Neal, Luvenia O’Neal and Bobby Gene O’Neal.
His family includes four sons, Daniel O’Neal of Arkansas, Tim O’Neal of Florida, Robert O’Neal and wife Dori of Greenville, South Carolina, and Steve Hare and wife Tammy of Lafayette, Indiana; one brother, Ander Lee O’Neal and wife Doris of South Carolina; fifteen grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be Friday morning, September 23rd, at 11:00 in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Pastor Kevin Collins officiating. Burial will follow at Hardens Chapel Cemetery with military honors.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday evening from 6:00 until 8:00.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
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