The funeral service for Dr. Charles Lawrence Neal will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, March 7, 2025, in the Fellowship Hall of Temple Baptist Church due to sanctuary renovations.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Temple Baptist Church in the Fellowship Hall. Officiating the Service will be Dr. Reggie Bridges and Dr. John King under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes of Ruston.  A private family burial will be held after the funeral.

Larry was a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle.  He died peacefully surrounded by his family in Ruston, Louisiana on March 3, 2025.  His life was filled with the love of Jesus, his family, his medical practice and medical mission work.  Larry was the oldest of two children, born January 7, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois to Edith and Charles Neal.  He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law Robert Henderson.

Larry is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Nelda; his six children, Susan Ewing (Brandon), Emily Mayerhoff (Rodney), Paul Neal (Amy), Anna Alexander (Mark), Emily Adams (Jody), and Rebecca Williams (Gerry); fifteen grandchildren, Allison E. Hansen (Cale), Elizabeth Anne Ewing, Anna Beth, Corinne, Lila & Vivian Mayerhoff, Andrew and Christopher Neal, Walker & JP Alexander, Nicholas, Sarah & Bailey Anne Adams, and Catherine & Charles Williams; and great-granddaughter Nora Hansen; his sister Cathy (Mike) Philpot and many other cherished family and friends.

Larry graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1961, played basketball at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa (1961-1963) and completed his undergraduate degree from The University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK in 1965.  He attended medical school at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.  After completing his Otorhinolaryngology Residency at the University of Oklahoma in 1973, Dr. Neal served on Active Duty at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland from 1973 – 1975. In 1975, he joined Green Clinic and dedicated 45 years to caring for his patients before retiring from his practice in 2020. He is remembered not only for his expertise in ENT, but also for his kindness, compassion, and commitment to his patients.

Larry enjoyed performing around North Louisiana with The Doctors Quartet with fellow members Dr. Hoye Grafton, Dr. Ben Haley, Dr. JV Jones, and the late Dr. Dale Boersma. (Yes, it took 5 doctors to make a quartet!)  They sang Stamps-Baxter gospel hymns and enjoyed sharing the love of Jesus with everyone.

Larry served as a member and president of the Cedar Creek Board of Directors for 18 years and served as a team doctor while his children were in school.  He was a faithful long-time member of Temple Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon, High School Sunday School director, four-year old Sunday School teacher, and member of the orchestra.  Some of his fondest memories will always be from the many medical mission trips to Nicaragua.

Beyond his medical career, Dr. Neal was a fierce advocate for those living with Parkinson’s disease, a battle he faced personally. He helped bring the Rock Steady Boxing program to Louisiana Tech University, offering individuals with Parkinson’s a way to improve their strength, balance, and confidence through non-contact boxing. His dedication to this cause touched countless lives and left an impact that will continue for years to come. Along with Rock Steady, he was a member of the North Louisiana Parkinson’s Chorale led by Shayla Blake and the Music and Movement Class at Louisiana Tech University through the Parkinson Resource Center, led by Leaia Alsup and Gretchen Jones.

Pallbearers will be Jody Adams, Nicholas Adams, Brandon Ewing, Cale Hansen, Dr. Paul Neal, and Gerry Williams.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Adams, Randy Ewing, Dr. Jackie Robbins, Terry Ewing, Dr. Dwight Anderson, Dr. John Broocks lV, Johnny Mack Caraway, Larry Causey, James Davison,  Dr. Ben Haley, Dr. Robert Harper, Jeff Lewis, Dr. Ron Riley, Kiley Stephenson D. Aud, Chris Thomas, Dr. Galen Turner III and all of his partners and friends from the Green Clinic.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorials be made to the following: Temple Baptist Church of Ruston, the C. Lawrence Neal, M.D. Pre-Medicine Scholarship through the Louisiana Tech University Foundation, ROCK STEADY BOXING, or to the Parkinson Resource Center, Louisiana Tech University.

The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Meghan K. Harris, Dr. John Brinkley, Dr. Will Sanders, and Premier Hospice, especially Amy Vance, RN and Veronica “Muffin” Edwards; Personal HomeCare Services with a special thanks to Linda Pennington and Bridget Lacey; and LaTonya Jackson and the Tender Touch Svc, LLC.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com

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