James William Neal

NEAL James William – age 73 of Fairfield passed away Sunday, June 30, 2019.  He was born April 16, 1946 in Hamilton, OH, the son of the late Albert and Mary Neal (nee Estes).  On April 12, 1968 in Trenton, Ohio James married Helen Tiner.  Jim was an ordained minister working in Youth Ministry at Laurel Avenue Church of Christ for many years.  He and his wife were house parents at Midwestern Children’s Home and later fostered many children in their own home serving a total of 83 children.  He mentored many children through the years using his experience to do grief counseling with Mending Hearts.  He also did prison ministry and ministered to many people in adult jails, prisons and juvenile detention centers in Butler and Warren counties. He is survived by his wife Helen; sons Brian Neal and Kevin Neal, sisters Julia (Paul) Mann and Virginia Smith and numerous family and friends.  James is preceded in death by his brother Henry C. Neal.  Visitation will be held Wednesday, July3 from 5-7 PM at the Avance Funeral Home and Crematory, 4976 Winton Rd., Fairfield, OH, 45014.  Funeral service will be Friday July 5, 2019 at 1130 AM at the Laurel Avenue Church of Christ, 1049 Laurel Avenue, Hamilton, Ohio, 45015.  Charles Anderson officiating.  Burial to follow at Rose Hill Burial Park in Hamilton.  Memorial contributions may be sent to the Midwestern Children’s Home, 4585 Long-Spurling Rd., Pleasant Plain, OH, 45162.