Robert Raymond Neel

Robert Raymond Neel died on January 17, 2025 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was born August 14, 1930 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the son of Ray V. Neel and Alice Arnold Neel. He was pre-deceased by his one sister, Rose Marie Neel and his wife of 57 years, Joyce Sroka Neel. He is survived by their son, Richard Daniel Neel; daughter Vickie Lynn Otto and husband Kenneth Wayne Otto; daughter Deanna Lee Saiz and husband Bernard Raymond Saiz; his grandchildren Michael Kenneth Otto and wife Julie, Leah Otto Derence and husband Paul, Stephen Lee Saiz, and Kristen Marie Saiz; great grandchildren Ezra Nash, Lucas Derence, Annabelle Otto, Desmond Otto, and Hale Otto.

In 1935, he moved with his mother from Albuquerque to the small town of Kirtland in northwest New Mexico where she taught elementary school. In 1943, his mother remarried and the family moved to Hanover New Mexico in Grant County where Robert attended Hanover and Hurley schools. After graduating from Hurley High School in 1948, he entered University of New Mexico School of Engineering graduating in 1952 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a commission as second lieutenant in the USAF. He entered the USAF pilot training program in February 1953 at Bartow, Florida. He and Joyce Sroka, a student at Western New Mexico University, were married in August 1953 while he was in pilot training in Bryan, Texas. He received his wings in March 1954 as a single engine pilot and was assigned to Randolph AFB in San Antonio Texas for several months flying B-29 aircraft. He then went on to Tucson to spend the rest of his USAF career at Davis-Monthan AFB flying B-47 aircraft in the Strategic Air Command. He obtained the rank of Captain in the USAF. In 1957 Robert and Joyce’s first son, Richard, was born in Tucson Arizona.

In March 1957 Robert completed his USAF active-duty career and joined Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque as a member of the technical staff retiring from Sandia 35 years later in 1992. Most of the last ten years at Sandia were spent in England, then in Germany representing Sandia at the U.S. European Command Weapon Surety Division. He also spent a year in the Boston area at the USAF Physical Security Division at Hanscom AFB. Joyce accompanied him on each of those assignments. They both enjoyed their time spent while on these assignments and traveling around the areas.

Robert was very much a family man. He was always involved in his children’s activities. He was baseball coach, Boy Scout troop leader, and always helping at Girl Scout camping activities. He wanted his children to have many experiences, taking his family water skiing, downhill skiing and on many family vacations around the country in their family camper. He liked getting involved in things and found true pleasure in doing things for other people. He was very generous with his time and would do whatever he could to help others. Robert and Joyce loved spending time with their grandchildren.

After retirement Joyce and he travelled extensively, always returning to their Albuquerque home. After Joyce’s death in June, 2010, Robert moved to La Vida Llena Life Support Community where he resided independently until his death.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of Robert's favorite charities:  Arc of NM