Frances "Frankie" Irene Neal
1929 – 2016

Surrounded by her family, Frankie died in her home on December 27, 2016, in Winston Salem, NC on the day of her 66th wedding anniversary. She was born in Galax, Virginia at the height of the depression. She graduated from Radford College and went on to an exciting life in Washington, DC where she met her future husband, Richard. An avid reader, she could recite the poems and verses from the bible and Shakespeare that she had learned as a child. She read and solved cross-word puzzles her whole life and found great joy playing games with her family.

Above all, she loved her family. One of the last things she said was, "I am fortunate in my family. I love you all." She never forgot her roots and will be buried next to the locations of the church and school she attended as a child.

She is survived by her husband Richard and her children Linda, Susanna (Ray) Dyer and Melanie (Chris) Crabtree; her grandchildren Brian and Melissa Neal and Chris and Richard Dyer; her daughter-in-law Margaret (Jim) Kent; her sister Doris (Bill) Giovanetti; and 5 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents Harvey and Larkie Felts, her daughter Melissa and her son Michael.

A memorial service will be held Sunday at 3:00 PM in the Vaughan-Guynn Chapel with Reverend Robert Whaley presiding. Interment will follow in the Blue Ridge Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, 1559 Max Lane, Galax, Virginia.The family will receive friends Sunday from 2:00 PM until time for the service at the Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home.

Because of her life-long love of animals, in lieu of flowers please consider donations to bestfriend.org, an animal rescue organization she strongly supported.