DOVER - William G. Neaton passed away peacefully on Apr. 26, 2017, in the presence of his loving children.
Bill was born Jul. 18, 1946, in Albany, N.Y., to the late Kenneth and Harriet Neaton.
Bill received his B.A. in Sociology from Western Maryland College and an M.A. in Business Management from Central Michigan University. Upon graduating from college, he served his country for four years as an artillery officer in the United States Army.
After his discharge, Bill began his career with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, which brought him to Dover in 1979 to open his own franchise, Neaton's Goodyear Tire Service. A successful businessman, he owned and operated his franchise until 2005 and earned the Kent County Small Businessman of the Year award in 1996. Bill then served as the Economic Development Director for the city of Dover and the Executive Director of the Downtown Dover Partnership from 2008 until his retirement in 2016.
Throughout his career, his service to his community filled him with immense pride. Bill served on the Kent General Hospital Board of Directors from 1988 to 1997; serving as chairman from 1995 to 1997. While in this role, he initiated and oversaw the merger of Kent General Hospital and Milford Memorial Hospital to form what is now known as Bayhealth Medical Center. This was one of his proudest accomplishments and he continued serving as the Chairman of the Bayhealth Board of Directors from 1997 to 2000. Bill also served on the board at the Modern Maturity Center from 1992 to 2011, serving as president from 2000 to 2005.
In his spare time, Bill was a highly regarded official for high school and college football, and high school lacrosse. He cherished the friendships he made on athletic fields over the 30 years he officiated. He enjoyed spending his downtime with his toes in the sand, reading a good book, and having a "tasty beverage" on the beach. He loved animals and could almost always be found with a furry companion at his side. Above all else, he was a man who loved his family.
He is survived by his daughters, Lisa Black and her husband, Everett, Jessica Greeley and her husband, Ted, and Rebecca Renwick and her husband, Nate; his son, Alex and his wife, Katie; brother, Randy Neaton and his wife, Connie; former wife, Bobbi Neaton; grandchildren, William and Matthew Black, MaryRobert and Jack Greeley, and Calvin and Grayson Neaton; his companion, Jill Cavalcanti; and his beloved dogs, Tucker and Betsy.
Memorial services will be held May 21, 2017, at 1 p.m., at the Modern Maturity Center, 1121 Forrest Ave., Dover.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Modern Maturity Center.
Letters of condolences may be sent and guest book signed at www.torbertfuneral.com