Viola Ann McNeal's Obituary
Viola Ann McNeal was born on November 26, 1939 in Osceola, Iowa, the daughter of Vernie Ross and Roxie Dollrus (Cook) Proctor. Viola passed from this life Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 2:38PM at 85 years of age.
Viola was one of 11 children born to Vernie and Roxie. She attended grade school in a one-room country schoolhouse and attended high school in Osceola.
On May 23, 1959 in Chariton, Iowa, Viola was united in marriage to Robert Dean McNeal. Two daughters and two sons blessed this union. The couple moved between Missouri and Iowa, finally settling and spending the last 50+ years in the Walnut City/Centerville area.
Viola spent most of her life being a homemaker, and cleaning homes and businesses for others. This gave her the opportunity to meet a lot of good people, which she cherished.
Viola enjoyed spending her time playing music, planting flowers, archery, and redecorating her home. It wasn’t until after her children were grown, that she picked up playing the piano and guitar, enjoying any opportunity to play music and sing along with her friends. Often you would see her playing and singing at the Hee-Haw Show in Unionville, Iowa for about 6 years or at one of the local nursing homes. Music held a very special place in her heart. She was proud to attend the Grand Ole Opry in Knoxville, Tennessee, and took a picture with one of her favorite artists, Kitty Wells.
Left to cherish Viola’s memory are her daughters, Katharine (Earl) Newman and Vicki (Randy) Rexroat; her sons, Anthony (Tammy) McNeal and James (Julene) McNeal; granddaughters, Melanie (Nathan) Johnson, Elizabeth (Sam) Huey, Iesha McNeal, Brandi Rexroat, Krisha Rexroat, DeShann Rexroat, Eva Fisk, Rowen Fisk, Janna (Hank) Cole, and Kimberly (Melissa) Melendez; her grandsons, Robert (Searra) McNicholas II, Dwight McNeal, Nathan McNeal, and Xander McNeal; 17 great grandchildren; her sister, Frances Wright; as well as several nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.
Viola was preceded in death by her husband, Robert “Bob” McNeal; her parents, Vernie and Roxie Proctor; her brothers, Raymond, Robert, Eldon, Ernest, and Daryl; her sisters, Dorothy Mathews Holmes, Donna Bell Johnson, Verna Christian, Lela Grove, and Virginia Proctor; and her granddaughter, Samantha Rexroat.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM, Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at Thomas Funeral Home in Centerville with Danny McNeal officiating. Burial will follow the service at Haines Cemetery, north of Centerville. Visitation will take place Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at Thomas Funeral Home, with the family greeting friends from 1:00PM-2:00PM. Memorials have been established to the family, and checks may be written to Vicki Rexroat, to be designated at a later date, and may be mailed to Thomas Funeral Home, ATTN; McNeal family, 501 North 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at https://www.thomasfh.com or https://www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome.
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