Dennis D. O'Neal, 81, passed away Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009. He was a retired police officer and a wonderful family man. Dennis experienced cardiac arrest March 14, 2009, but God granted this additional time to share with his family.
Funeral: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Ridglea Presbyterian Church. Interment: Laurel Land Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Funeral Home.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in his memory to Ridglea Presbyterian Church, 6201 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76116.
Dennis was born Aug. 10, 1928, in Wellington. His parents moved their young family to Marshall, where he graduated from high school in 1947. He was the oldest of eight children and learned mechanics while working in his father's garage as a teenager.
In 1952, he joined the Fort Worth Police Department. Not long after that, he met Melva Gerdes, his wife of 54 years, while on a routine call to Harris Hospital. As a patrolman, he carried pockets full of peppermint candy to give to children he met in the course of his work. He wanted them to have a positive image of policemen. After he and his wife joined Ridglea Presbyterian Church in 1957, he continued his "peppermint ministry" at the church; and throughout his life always had a pocket of candy he would dispense along with a joke or kind word.
Colleagues at the police department nicknamed him "McCloud" after the Dennis Weaver television character. He retired from the Fort Worth Police Department after 32 years and then worked for the Kennedale Police Department to round out a 40-year career in law enforcement.
His interest in people was genuine. He gave freely of his time and affection to others. Dennis was always willing to help family, neighbors, acquaintances, and even strangers. No one he met was a stranger for long. He especially enjoyed working with the scouting program at Ridglea Presbyterian Church when his sons were young. He was a dedicated husband and father who often worked two jobs, but made time to help with housework and participate in family activities. He could fix anything from a broken car to a broken heart.
Dennis loved hunting and being outdoors and spent much time at the family ranch near Dublin. He enjoyed having family and friends visit at the ranch, and more than once hosted large family reunions there.
After retiring, he and Melva traveled often and their circle of friends grew to include people as far away as Australia. Thanks to e-mail, he kept in touch with family and friends around the globe; every morning, "You've Got Mail" was part of his routine.
To his family and friends, no one can fill the boots of this tall, entertaining man with a heart as big as Texas.
The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. David Corley of Consultants in Cardiology and to the Covenant Hospice staff, Tori, Deborah, Ron and Dr. David Capper, who provided such loving care.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Dennis Denver O'Neal and Vivian Stanford O'Neal; sister, Dorothy Mercer; and brother, Dale O'Neal.
Survivors: Left with wonderful memories are wife, Melva Gerdes O'Neal; sons, Dennis O'Neal and Douglas O'Neal (Dawn); daughters, Marcia Elizandro (David) and Catherine Larkins (Ron); grandchildren, David Elizandro, Jessica Keenan (Jason), Sean O'Neal (Keaton), Corrie Kienast, Ashley Elizandro, Casey Gasper (Zachary), Nicholas McCommas, Randy McCommas and Christopher McCommas; great-grandchildren, Jax, Grace and Trinity; brothers, Delbert and Don; sisters, Doris Lewis, Dolletta Byars and Dena McKnight; and an extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Ridglea Presbyterian Church. Interment: Laurel Land Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Funeral Home.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in his memory to Ridglea Presbyterian Church, 6201 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76116.
Dennis was born Aug. 10, 1928, in Wellington. His parents moved their young family to Marshall, where he graduated from high school in 1947. He was the oldest of eight children and learned mechanics while working in his father's garage as a teenager.
In 1952, he joined the Fort Worth Police Department. Not long after that, he met Melva Gerdes, his wife of 54 years, while on a routine call to Harris Hospital. As a patrolman, he carried pockets full of peppermint candy to give to children he met in the course of his work. He wanted them to have a positive image of policemen. After he and his wife joined Ridglea Presbyterian Church in 1957, he continued his "peppermint ministry" at the church; and throughout his life always had a pocket of candy he would dispense along with a joke or kind word.
Colleagues at the police department nicknamed him "McCloud" after the Dennis Weaver television character. He retired from the Fort Worth Police Department after 32 years and then worked for the Kennedale Police Department to round out a 40-year career in law enforcement.
His interest in people was genuine. He gave freely of his time and affection to others. Dennis was always willing to help family, neighbors, acquaintances, and even strangers. No one he met was a stranger for long. He especially enjoyed working with the scouting program at Ridglea Presbyterian Church when his sons were young. He was a dedicated husband and father who often worked two jobs, but made time to help with housework and participate in family activities. He could fix anything from a broken car to a broken heart.
Dennis loved hunting and being outdoors and spent much time at the family ranch near Dublin. He enjoyed having family and friends visit at the ranch, and more than once hosted large family reunions there.
After retiring, he and Melva traveled often and their circle of friends grew to include people as far away as Australia. Thanks to e-mail, he kept in touch with family and friends around the globe; every morning, "You've Got Mail" was part of his routine.
To his family and friends, no one can fill the boots of this tall, entertaining man with a heart as big as Texas.
The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. David Corley of Consultants in Cardiology and to the Covenant Hospice staff, Tori, Deborah, Ron and Dr. David Capper, who provided such loving care.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Dennis Denver O'Neal and Vivian Stanford O'Neal; sister, Dorothy Mercer; and brother, Dale O'Neal.
Survivors: Left with wonderful memories are wife, Melva Gerdes O'Neal; sons, Dennis O'Neal and Douglas O'Neal (Dawn); daughters, Marcia Elizandro (David) and Catherine Larkins (Ron); grandchildren, David Elizandro, Jessica Keenan (Jason), Sean O'Neal (Keaton), Corrie Kienast, Ashley Elizandro, Casey Gasper (Zachary), Nicholas McCommas, Randy McCommas and Christopher McCommas; great-grandchildren, Jax, Grace and Trinity; brothers, Delbert and Don; sisters, Doris Lewis, Dolletta Byars and Dena McKnight; and an extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Dennis D. O'Neal, 81, passed away Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009. He was a retired police officer and a wonderful family man. Dennis experienced cardiac arrest March 14, 2009, but God granted this additional time to share with his family.
Funeral: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Ridglea Presbyterian Church. Interment: Laurel Land Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Funeral Home.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in his memory to Ridglea Presbyterian Church, 6201 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76116.
Dennis was born Aug. 10, 1928, in Wellington. His parents moved their young family to Marshall, where he graduated from high school in 1947. He was the oldest of eight children and learned mechanics while working in his father's garage as a teenager.
In 1952, he joined the Fort Worth Police Department. Not long after that, he met Melva Gerdes, his wife of 54 years, while on a routine call to Harris Hospital. As a patrolman, he carried pockets full of peppermint candy to give to children he met in the course of his work. He wanted them to have a positive image of policemen. After he and his wife joined Ridglea Presbyterian Church in 1957, he continued his "peppermint ministry" at the church; and throughout his life always had a pocket of candy he would dispense along with a joke or kind word.
Colleagues at the police department nicknamed him "McCloud" after the Dennis Weaver television character. He retired from the Fort Worth Police Department after 32 years and then worked for the Kennedale Police Department to round out a 40-year career in law enforcement.
His interest in people was genuine. He gave freely of his time and affection to others. Dennis was always willing to help family, neighbors, acquaintances, and even strangers. No one he met was a stranger for long. He especially enjoyed working with the scouting program at Ridglea Presbyterian Church when his sons were young. He was a dedicated husband and father who often worked two jobs, but made time to help with housework and participate in family activities. He could fix anything from a broken car to a broken heart.
Dennis loved hunting and being outdoors and spent much time at the family ranch near Dublin. He enjoyed having family and friends visit at the ranch, and more than once hosted large family reunions there.
After retiring, he and Melva traveled often and their circle of friends grew to include people as far away as Australia. Thanks to e-mail, he kept in touch with family and friends around the globe; every morning, "You've Got Mail" was part of his routine.
To his family and friends, no one can fill the boots of this tall, entertaining man with a heart as big as Texas.
The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. David Corley of Consultants in Cardiology and to the Covenant Hospice staff, Tori, Deborah, Ron and Dr. David Capper, who provided such loving care.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Dennis Denver O'Neal and Vivian Stanford O'Neal; sister, Dorothy Mercer; and brother, Dale O'Neal.
Survivors: Left with wonderful memories are wife, Melva Gerdes O'Neal; sons, Dennis O'Neal and Douglas O'Neal (Dawn); daughters, Marcia Elizandro (David) and Catherine Larkins (Ron); grandchildren, David Elizandro, Jessica Keenan (Jason), Sean O'Neal (Keaton), Corrie Kienast, Ashley Elizandro, Casey Gasper (Zachary), Nicholas McCommas, Randy McCommas and Christopher McCommas; great-grandchildren, Jax, Grace and Trinity; brothers, Delbert and Don; sisters, Doris Lewis, Dolletta Byars and Dena McKnight; and an extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Ridglea Presbyterian Church. Interment: Laurel Land Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Funeral Home.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in his memory to Ridglea Presbyterian Church, 6201 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76116.
Dennis was born Aug. 10, 1928, in Wellington. His parents moved their young family to Marshall, where he graduated from high school in 1947. He was the oldest of eight children and learned mechanics while working in his father's garage as a teenager.
In 1952, he joined the Fort Worth Police Department. Not long after that, he met Melva Gerdes, his wife of 54 years, while on a routine call to Harris Hospital. As a patrolman, he carried pockets full of peppermint candy to give to children he met in the course of his work. He wanted them to have a positive image of policemen. After he and his wife joined Ridglea Presbyterian Church in 1957, he continued his "peppermint ministry" at the church; and throughout his life always had a pocket of candy he would dispense along with a joke or kind word.
Colleagues at the police department nicknamed him "McCloud" after the Dennis Weaver television character. He retired from the Fort Worth Police Department after 32 years and then worked for the Kennedale Police Department to round out a 40-year career in law enforcement.
His interest in people was genuine. He gave freely of his time and affection to others. Dennis was always willing to help family, neighbors, acquaintances, and even strangers. No one he met was a stranger for long. He especially enjoyed working with the scouting program at Ridglea Presbyterian Church when his sons were young. He was a dedicated husband and father who often worked two jobs, but made time to help with housework and participate in family activities. He could fix anything from a broken car to a broken heart.
Dennis loved hunting and being outdoors and spent much time at the family ranch near Dublin. He enjoyed having family and friends visit at the ranch, and more than once hosted large family reunions there.
After retiring, he and Melva traveled often and their circle of friends grew to include people as far away as Australia. Thanks to e-mail, he kept in touch with family and friends around the globe; every morning, "You've Got Mail" was part of his routine.
To his family and friends, no one can fill the boots of this tall, entertaining man with a heart as big as Texas.
The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. David Corley of Consultants in Cardiology and to the Covenant Hospice staff, Tori, Deborah, Ron and Dr. David Capper, who provided such loving care.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Dennis Denver O'Neal and Vivian Stanford O'Neal; sister, Dorothy Mercer; and brother, Dale O'Neal.
Survivors: Left with wonderful memories are wife, Melva Gerdes O'Neal; sons, Dennis O'Neal and Douglas O'Neal (Dawn); daughters, Marcia Elizandro (David) and Catherine Larkins (Ron); grandchildren, David Elizandro, Jessica Keenan (Jason), Sean O'Neal (Keaton), Corrie Kienast, Ashley Elizandro, Casey Gasper (Zachary), Nicholas McCommas, Randy McCommas and Christopher McCommas; great-grandchildren, Jax, Grace and Trinity; brothers, Delbert and Don; sisters, Doris Lewis, Dolletta Byars and Dena McKnight; and an extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews.
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