Dale R. Neas of Cinnaminson, NJ, was born on December 11, 1942, to Lily and Russell Neas and grew up in Coopersburg, PA.

As a boy, Dale worked a newspaper route to earn money. Later, he helped on a local bakery delivery truck and worked on golf courses mowing greens and raking sand traps—a likely start to the meticulous care and pride he would later devote to his own lawn and gardens.

Dale attended Southern Lehigh High School, where he played baseball, though basketball was his true passion. He starred on the varsity team, often leading the school in scoring. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Texas. In 1962, he graduated from the inaugural class of the Air Force Academy Preparatory School. He then completed two more years of service, primarily in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he repaired B-52 bombers.

Following his military service, Dale attended Mississippi College, where he continued his basketball career as a standout player. He later returned home to attend Drexel University before completing his degree in mathematics at La Salle University in 1973, taking classes at night. Dale built a career at Bell of Pennsylvania, providing technical support to the sales team through numerous corporate changes and splits, ultimately retiring from Lucent Technologies in 1998.

For over 40 years, Dale was a faithful and active member of Epworth United Methodist Church in Palmyra, NJ. He taught countless Sunday school classes and served as a church leader, sharing his love of Christ with others. In 1994, Dale took part in the first of several mission trips to Russia, where he formed a close bond with his host family, beginning a friendship that would span more than 32 years. In 2009, Dale founded the Bread of Life Food Pantry in the church basement, which he led until 2019. Today, the pantry helps feed more than 400 people in the surrounding community each month.

In addition to his love of basketball, Dale enjoyed skiing, tennis, and especially a very competitive game of ping-pong. He could often be found proudly tending to his lawn and garden, cheering on the kids at their sporting events, or relaxing on the back porch with his beloved wife, Terry, the love of his life, who was rarely far from his side throughout their 52 years together.

Together, Dale and Terry built a life filled with love and devotion, and a family that became the center of Dale’s world. He cherished the time they spent together and, above all, the moments when everyone could be together under one roof. Affectionately known as “Poppop,” Dale relished hosting the annual Fourth of July celebration, playing spirited games of bean bags at the family reunion, and sharing plenty of laughs over a competitive game of marbles. For more than 40 years, he looked forward to the annual family vacations at the Jersey Shore, his special place, where he loved flying his cherished kites over the sand dunes.

Dale will be remembered for his steadfast faith, his unconditional love for others, his mischievous sense of humor, and his gift for making everyone feel welcome.

After several years spent battling cancer, Dale passed away on October 11, 2026, at the age of 83. He was predeceased by his parents, Russell and Lily Neas, and his sister, Janet Neas DiClemente, and her husband, Al. He is survived by his siblings, Lana Neas Rohrbach (George) and Alan Neas (Denise); his beloved wife of 52 years, Terry; his children, Brian Neas (Maggie) and Devon Williams (Richard); and his grandchildren, Benjamin and Andrew Neas, and Eleanor Williams.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Epworth United Methodist Church, 501 Morgan Ave., Palmyra, NJ 08065. The sanctuary will open for family visitation at 10:00 a.m. Following the service, guests are invited to a reception in the gathering space for light refreshments and continued celebration.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to Epworth United Methodist Church or the Bread of Life Food Pantry: https://palmyranjumc.org

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.weberfuneralhomeinc.com