Charleene "Chod" Neal

Charleene “Chod” Neal, 94 of Connersville, died Wednesday evening, April 22, 2015, at Fayette Regional Health System. Charleene was born August 20, 1920 in Fayette County to Charles Clifford and Rosella Martin Roberts. She graduated from Everton High School in 1938 where she was a basketball cheerleader and later attended beauty college. On April 11, 1948, Charleene was married in DeLand, Florida to Virgil A. Neal, who died March 25, 1977. They made their residence in Connersville. During her years of employment, she had worked at the Fayette County Court House, Lieter’s Dress Shoppe, J.C. Penney, several casket companies including: Associated Products, Fayette Lock & Tool and Wallace Metals of Richmond. During World War II, Charleene worked at American Central as a ‘Rosie the Riveter’, riveting B17 airplane wings. In her leisure time, she enjoyed being with family and friends, bowling, playing cards, reading and working in her yard. Charleene also loved to bake and was well known for her yeast rolls and wonderful lemon meringue pie. Charleene is survived by her children and their spouses: DeWayne Neal & Becky; Debra Jaccaud & Charles, all of Connersville; her grandchildren: Thomas Neal of Peoria, Illinois; Terri Helmsing and her husband, Jason; her great-grandson: Ethan Helmsing, all of Edinburgh; her brother: Charles M. Roberts and his wife, Julia, of Ft. Myers, Florida; her sister-in-law: Lois Roberts, of Connersville; several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and her husband of 28 years, Charleene is preceded in death by her brother: John M. Roberts and her sister: Lucy Noe. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home with Dr. John Stewart of Connersville officiating. Interment will follow in Dale Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 11 until the time of service Monday where memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.