Laird Charles McNeal Jr.

Laird Charles “Chuck” McNeal, Jr. born 12/26/46 left this world peacefully on 12/12/24 at Riverside Hospital following a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his mother Elizabeth (Miller) McNeal and his father Laird Charles McNeal, Sr. and is survived by brother David Jay (DJ) McNeal of Del Ray, FL.

Chuck was full of life and lead an interesting life, always surrounded by friends who considered themselves his extended family. In his ‘glory days’, he was a star athlete playing at Brookhaven High School in the mid-1960’s, going on to play for Woody Hayes at The Ohio State University and was a member of the 1968 National Championship team with gold pants and a varsity jacket for his efforts. Chuck was drafted and did a tour of duty in Vietnam that lived with him until the day he died. After returning to Ohio, he took a run at the NFL which never came to fruition but never discouraged him from his love of sports. 

Chuck was a music man; the blues in particular were his favorite and he played one helluva mean harmonica. He knew many local performers in the Columbus area and was a regular at the Sugar Shack ‘back in the day’. Chuck had an eye for antiques and traded in them off and on over the years, he worked in heavy highway construction as a surveyor, seeing the 270 outer belt to its final completion in the 1990’s, and before retiring, worked at the Marzetti Plant. 

More recent years have been difficult as Chuck battled a variety of ailments. Despite being divorced, he and his ex-wife Sarah Welsh maintained a special bond and friendship; and until the end, Sarah was his primary caregiver. 

We are confident that Chuck was welcomed to heaven by his mother who he lost at a very young age, and his father who Chuck would say was one of the finest men to live. He had many other close friends that passed before him, who we’re sure were waiting on the other side to “get the band back together”. 

There will be a private graveside celebration of life at the convenience of family and friends on a date yet to be determined. This is our tribute to a perfectly imperfect man that will be missed beyond measure so until we meet again Chuck, we will carry you in our hearts. 💔