Neal Edwards

Neal Clifton Edwards, 90, died Saturday, April 20, 2013, at his home in Cape Girardeau after a prolonged illness.

Neal was born June 13, 1922, in Delta, son of Samuel C. and Menda Edwards. Samuel passed away in 1923.

Neal was raised and attended school in Benton, Mo.

He served in the U.S. Army in World War II. He was a staff sergeant with the 1905th Engineer Aviation Battalion from November 1942 through December 1945, leading a platoon of 47 men in the China-Burma-India theater to construct the Ledo Trail of the Burma Road.

In 1946, he moved to Cape Girardeau and spent 20 years in the general TV business. In 1965 he moved to radio broadcasting, working for KGMO for five years. In 1970, he joined KFVS as sales manager, and in 1979 joined the American Family Group as an account executive for KFVS TV. He retired in 1986.

Neal was involved in various community and veterans organizations in numerous leadership roles throughout the years.

He was a charter member of The Exchange Club, a lifetime member of VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau, a member of the American Legion, Elks Lodge 639 and SEMO Booster Club and was a 40-year member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

In 1997, Neal founded the Annual Flag Day Golf Tournament for the Missouri Veterans Home, raising more than $300,000 for this cause, alone.

He was a founding member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church and attended Trinity Lutheran Church.

He was a member of Kimbeland Country Club and past chairman of the United Way board of directors.

Neal received numerous awards for his community service, including 13 Go-Getter awards and the Rush H. Limbaugh award from the chamber of commerce, as well as the 2006 Spirit of America award. In all, Neal raised more than $1 million for local charities and veterans organizations.

Neal married Verline Greer in Kevil, Ky., on June 28, 2003. He is survived by his wife; one daughter, Carolyn (Albert) Moore of Cape Girardeau; a stepdaughter, Belinda Parr of Cape Girardeau; a stepson, Brad (Patricia) Greer of Dexter, Mo.; a granddaughter, Kendra Foster Mitchell of Atlanta; and a step-granddaughter, Shea Masterson of St. Louis.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Walter Daniels; his mother and father; daughter Mary Ellen Rutherford and son-in-law Roger Rutherford; wife Betty Masterson; and ex-wife Ruth Edwards.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the chapel, with Pastor Nathan Burgell of Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Missouri Veterans Home, 2400 Veterans Memorial Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, or Southeast Hospice, 10 Doctors' Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.