Rev. Dr. William D. O'Neal's Obituary
The Rev. Dr. William Daniel O’Neal died on Sunday, January 14, 2018 In Longview. He was pastor Emeritus at First Presbyterian Church of Longview.
Memorial services will be 1:30 PM Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Kendal Land officiating under direction of Rader Funeral Home. Burial and graveside services will be at the Sibley Cemetery near Choudrant, Louisiana with the Rev. David R. O’Neal officiating.
Dr. O’Neal was born on April 22, 1930 in Bastrop, Louisiana the son of Lloyd and Alline O’Neal. His father was also a Presbyterian minister and his mother, a church musician and educator.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy C. O’Neal, and two sons, the Rev. David R. O’Neal and wife, Jan of Tyler, Texas and son, Dr. Donald G. O’Neal and wife, Laurie of Gladewater, Texas. And one granddaughter, Courtney Paige Norwood and husband Brandon of Lewisville, Texas and one great granddaughter, Lindsey; and a sister, Christine Childress of Choudrant, Louisiana; and a niece, Cyndi Bohrer and husband, Phil of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; a nephew, Daniel Childress and wife, Marybell of Fayetteville, Arkansas; and several grand nieces and nephews.
Dr. O’Neal is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and the Westminster Fellowship, a Presbyterian group for college students. He held a Master of Divinity degree from Columbia Theological Presbyterian Seminary, Decatur, Georgia and a Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois.
He was ordained in the Alabama Presbyterian Church, Choudrant, Louisiana in 1954. He began his service to the church as assistant pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Montgomery, Alabama. In 1956, he became the first pastor of the Broadmoor Presbyterian Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In the thirteen years of his pastorate there, the congregation grew from 65 members to 1200 members. O’Neal also served the First Presbyterian Church, Bay City, Texas from 1969- 1977.
In 1977, he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Longview and served for 18 years until retirement in 1995 when he was elected Pastor Emeritus. During this pastorate, the church experienced considerable growth, became very active in community outreach, acquired additional property and carried out two major renovation programs.
His service to the denomination included being elected Moderator of South Louisiana Presbytery. He was active in Men’s work, church extension, and camps and conference in that presbytery. In Texas, he served on several commission of the Ministry; the Bicentennial Campaign Committee and the Board of Directors of Camp Gilmont. He was also a Trustee of Schreiner College, Kerrville, Texas. He served as board member and President of Evergreen Presbyterian Ministries and Texas State CROP – a world hunger relief agency.
Always active in the community, Dr. O’Neal was a board member of the United Way and the Paula Martin Jones Childrens Center. He was a member of an informal organization of local ministers that founded the Information and Service Center, the Food Box, The Stewpot, Habitat for Humanity, Palmer Drug Abuse Program, The bi racial Ministers Fellowship and the Literacy Council. He served as past President of the Mental Health Association and as a board member. He was named Man of the Year by the Federated Clubs of Longview.
Dr. O’Neal was a strong advocate of missionary work and traveled to Mexico, Haiti and Zaire in the interest of missions. Also, in his four pastorates he was known for emphasizing the importance of the Reformed faith and Presbyterian theology and history. He held preaching and teaching seminars in many churches in Louisiana and Texas.
In 2006, O’Neal was honored with the Unity Award by the Longview Race Relations Committee for his commitment to the cause of better relations between the races.
Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, the Haiti Education Foundation, Camp Gilmont or the Paula Martin Jones Childrens Center.
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