Services for Locomotive Engineer Walter Neal Ayers, 80, Mineola were held Saturday, February 7, at First Baptist Church, Mineola, with the Rev. James Thompson officiating. Mr. Ayers died Feb. 3.
Graveside services were held at Algoma Memorial Gardens, Marshall, with the Rev. Dee Black officiating under direction of Roselawn Funeral Home Mineola.
He was born April 13, 1917, in Marshall to the late Walter Lee and Cora Mae Thomas Ayers.
He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and was an engineer with the railroad during World War II. He retired from Union Pacific Railroad in 1980 after 39 years service, and also worked for Babbin' Brook Dairies in Marshall.
He moved to Mineola from Marshall in 1957 and was a member of First Baptist Church, Mosley Sunday School Class and served as deacon. He was also a 50-year member of Marshall Masonic Lodge, the Brotherhood of Locomotive engineers, Optimist Club, served as a baseball coach for National Little League in Marshall and Mineola Youth Foundation Little League.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Billy Alvin Ayers, and sister Eula Mae Burnett.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Dorothy Lee Bunnell Ayers, Mineola; Sons, Walter Billy Ayers, Media, Pa.; and Thomas Bunnell Ayers, Dallas; daughter, Dolores Rusk, Etoile; brother, Ross Ayers, Marshall; sister, Rima Chambers, Dallas; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers included Casey Ayers, Corey Ayers, Thomas Ayers, John Walters, Roger Scott and Jim Burnett.
Honorary pallbearers were C.O. Richardson, Carl Lacy, Kenneth Wagoner, Tim Phillips and members of Mosley Sunday School Class and Masonic Lodge.
Taken from the Mineola Monitor dated Feb. 11, 1998.