Mildred June O’Neal, 94 of Fayetteville, AR passed away peacefully on August 6, 2022, in Fayetteville Arkansas. As she entered hospice care June was surrounded by family members, caregiver Diane Collins, and a compassionate and caring team of nurses and CNAs from Butterfield Trail Village and Washington Regional Hospice.
June was born June 6, 1928, in Ritzville, WA to Henry and Katherine (Wagner) Heineman, the youngest of 5 children and only daughter.
June (Mom or Grandma) was raised in Eastern Washington on the family’s wheat farm. Her parent’s families were immigrants from Germany and Russia and started a new life in Washington. June graduated from Eastern Washington State University with a degree in music and elementary education. June used her “pitch perfect” hearing, great listening skills, and patience to teach children around the world how to play the piano and the basics of education.
From a simple life of growing up on a farm in Washington, June spent her adult life traveling the world with her husband Colonel Joe Oneal and their 6 children. After a 27-year career in the Air Force Joe and June came back home and settled in Bremerton Washington.
Post Air Force, they traveled the world together to see their children, grandchildren, and many friends they had met along the way. They also lived in Jeddah Saudi Arabia for several years where Joe was a consultant to the Saudi government on Weather systems. June would tell many great stories about their time in Saudi Arabia. She did not like that she could not drive in Jedda, having to ride in the back seat, or wearing certain clothes because of the culture but she adapted like she always did.
June’s legacy will be that she was a gracious and kind person. She made the best of any situation and always had a smile on her face and a pleasant story to share. She also had a quick sense of humor and great wit.
June spent the last 9 years in Fayetteville as a resident of Butterfield Trail Village. She attended Genesis Church when she was able, and Pastor Jody Ferrell, would often visit her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Col. Joe R. O’Neal, two sons, Michael O’Neal, and Robert O’Neal, and four brothers.
She is survived by two daughters, Nancy O’Neal, and Mary Russell and her husband Mike, both of Fayetteville, AR, two sons, Patrick O’Neal and wife Robyn of Yorktown, VA, David O’Neal of Salt Lake City, UT, two daughters in law, Pamela Wood of Silverdale, WA, Meg O’Neal of Boise, ID, eleven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff at Butterfield Trail Village for the exceptional care and love they gave to our mother during her final days. We would also like to thank Diane Collins, mom’s exceptional caregiver, companion, and friend for her devotion and love for mom for the last four and half years.
A private family service will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery in Tacoma, WA. on Friday Sept 2nd. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity that is special to you. June would have liked that each of you would follow your passions and use your gifts to help others.
To sign the online guest book please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com.
