Billy "Bill" Preston Neaves

Mr. Billy Preston ""Bill"" Neaves, 80, of Kernersville, NC, passed away on Tuesday, October 6, 2015, at his residence. He was born on January 7, 1935, in Fries, VA to the late Wiley Preston and Martha ""Annie"" Johnson Neaves. His family moved to Ashe County when he was in the 8th grade. He graduated from Healing Springs High School. In 1953, he married Doris, his high school sweetheart, and moved to Winston-Salem. In 1997, they moved to Kernersville. Billy was certified in Machine Design from Chicago Technical College and was employed by Western Electric & Bell Telephone Labs for 20 years as a Draftsman and Sr. Designer, working on Underwater Sonar & Missile guidance systems. He spent the next 16 years employed by RJR Tobacco Co. as an Engineering Technologist III in Electrical and Process Instrumentation design. He attended NC State for a short course in Process and Instrumentation Design. After retirement from RJR, he was employed by AMP as a Contract Designer designing and testing electrical plating lines. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by one sister, Shelba Jean Ballou. Bill is survived by his wife of 62 years, Doris Neaves Neaves of the home; two children, Kenneth (Lisa) of Greensboro and Donna Cottrell (John) of Belews Creek, NC; four grandchildren, Zachary Powell (Kimberly) of Kernersville, Clayton Powell (Lydia) of Stillwater, OK, Rachel and Anna Neaves, both of Greensboro; and one great-grandchild, Riley Neaves. He loved his family very much, and his grandchildren and great-grandchild were very special to him. He enjoyed boating, fishing, gardening and bird carving. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, October 9, 2015, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel with Rev. Gary Byrum officiating. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The family would like to say a special thank you to Bill's Hospice nurse, Lisa Pruitt, for the compassionate care she provided to Bill during his illness. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 5000 Country Club Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27104 or Hospice of Rowan County, 720 Grove St., Salisbury, NC 28144.

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