Ruth Ann Neal

Ruth Ann Caperton Neal, age 79, passed away on Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, losing her battle with cancer. She was born on July 21, 1937 to Ruth Kyle Shelton and Jack Foster Caperton, II of Cotton Plant, Ark. She graduated from Cotton Plant High School in 1955 along with her lifelong childhood friends. Ruth Ann attended and graduated from from the University of Arkansas. She was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority and a dedicated Razorback fan. After graduation, she taught elementary school for twenty years in St. Louis, Mo., Cotton Plant, Ark., Department of Defense Schools in Okinawa, Japan, Camp Lejeune, N.C. and Fairfax County, Va. She loved teaching and considered her students as her own children. She often said she especially loved the third and fourth grades because the children stopped learning how to read and began to read to learn. While living in Va., she met and married Colonel Dick Neal, an Air Force Officer stationed at the Pentagon. In 1980, she retired from teaching and became an Air Force wife, moving where her husband's career took them. In 1984, as First Lady of the 544th Strategic Intelligence Wing, she participated in social functions and events including hosting dignitaries. After her husband's military retirement, they moved to the Washington D.C. area. In 1993 she and her husband returned to Arkansas and built their home in Quitman, overlooking Greer's Ferry Lake. For the next 23 years Ruth Ann enjoyed her family, friends, and travel. A few of her favorite travels include European river cruises, touring over a dozen European Countries, but most of all she loved Paris. Ruth Ann dearly loved God, her family and friends and wants them to know how touched she was by the caring thoughts and prayers from around the world. She is survived by her husband, Dick Neal of Quitman, Ark., her brother Jack F. Caperton III and wife, Carolyn, of Cotton Plant, Ark. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. at Cotton Plant, United Methodist Church on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. Committal Service will be at Cotton Plant Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements by Rhodes & Son Funeral Home, Augusta & McCrory. Pallbearers will be David Kloss, Jack Stan Caperton, Mike Cornell, Rob Pearson, Andrew Cornell, and Patrick Cornell. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to either Salvation Army at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org; the Wounded Warrior at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate; or Cotton Plant Cemetery Attn: Sue Reeves, 185 So 3rd St., Cotton Plant, Ark. 72036.