Lawrence Harold Mcneill

Lawrence Harold McNeill, 93, born on May 25, 1925, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, passed away June 23, 2018. He resided in Palm Springs, California at the time of his passing.

Born in a mill town without many prospects, Larry joined the Marines when he graduated high school, and his senior yearbook says, in not politically correct language, that he would make "the Japs regret that they bombed Pearl Harbor." (How ironic that three of his beloved grandchildren are half Japanese.) He was an "ordnance man" in the service, working on the F4U Corsair fighter jet out of Pearl Harbor and other operations in the Pacific. The Palm Springs air museum displays one, and we have a picture of him by it when he was in his nineties.

After the war, he went back to the mill town for work and frequented the local "Turn Hall," a combination bar, dance club, bowling alley, and gym, believing that he would simply follow in his dad's footsteps, as most of the other men from the town did. The bartender there at the time, Sam, had a different idea. One day he asked Larry what the hell he was doing coming to the bar everyday. Why wasn't he using his GI Bill to get an education. Larry didn't think he was a good enough student, but he started down the education road anyway, and by the time he finished, he had two advanced degrees from MIT in aerospace and aeronautical engineering. This led to a forty year career that took him back and forth across the country multiple times, until he finally settled in Upland, California, until he retired.

He was always a sports enthusiast, skiing, playing tennis, golfing, and of course he loved to play almost any game, especially backgammon and cards. Quite the competitive one was he, but fortunately age mellowed him, and he eventually could laugh and enjoy himself whether winning or losing. He taught some of his grand kids how to play one particular card game, Scat, but never, ever could beat them. That is until the weekend of his 93rd birthday, just a couple of weeks ago, when for the first time he won. He was so happy!

When he was in his sixties, after the death of his second wife, dad met the love of his later years, Denise "Abby" Cartwright, with whom he spent the next twenty-three years. He was dedicated to her and loved to cook her a wonderful meal. As an engineer, of course, he always had to follow a recipe, had everything timed to the second, and was always looking to improve.

In his later years, he was so happy and healthy. He went to the gym regularly almost till the end and just recently bought an exercise bike for his room. He repeatedly told family that he had no regrets and that God could take him anytime. The end came suddenly and sadly, but was mercifully quick.

Besides Abby, he is survived by his daughter, Susan, of Santa Barbara, California; his son, David, of Winnetka, California; his brother, Francis, of Levittown, Pennsylvania; and grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.

Burial services will be private at Oak Park Cemetery in Claremont, California.

Thanks to all who loved and support him and Abby over the years, and for your continued prayers.