William "Bill" Thurman O'Neal, Jr.
William "Bill" O'Neal, Jr. Obituary
Mr. William Thurman “Bill” O’Neal, Jr., age 61 of Lyons, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Oxley Park Health & Rehab under the care of Affinis Hospice, after a brief illness. He was a native of Toombs County, living in Lyons all of his life, and he was a 1981 graduate of Lyons Senior High School. He followed his father’s love in driving a truck with a thirty-five year career as a truck driver, the last fifteen years working for Georgia Pine Straw in Lyons. He also worked as a carpenter and in farming, and he assisted in the operation of Starra’s Skate Center, off and on for thirty years. Bill enjoyed fishing, spending time with his family, and talking on the CB radio who knew him as “Midnight”. He was known as a walking roadmap for all his trucking buddies. He is preceded in death by his parents, William Thurman O’Neal, Sr. and Caroline Williamson O’Neal; paternal grandparents, Barney O’Neal and Minnie Virginia Cochran O’Neal; and maternal grandparents, Ira Williamson and Avis Williamson Williamson.
His family includes two children, Joseph Kelly O’Neal of Vidalia, and Brittany O’Neal Englett and husband Bobby; his former wife of almost forty years, Kathy Kelley; four sisters, Dot Beckum, Patsy Powell, Karen Webb and husband Jack, and Debra Crawford and husband Tony, all of Lyons; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 6:00 until 8:00.
The funeral service will be Wednesday afternoon, December 4th, 2024, at 3:00 in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Pastor Don Carroll officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery.
Flowers are accepted or memorial contributions are suggested to Cruise in for a Cause, 901 Mt. Vernon Road, Vidalia, GA 30474.
Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.
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