Larry O'Neal

Larry O’Neal passed on Wed., September 13, 2023, peacefully at Hospice House of Youngstown.

He was born Dec. 11, 1931, in Youngstown. He is the son of Earl and Agnes Kirkwood O’Neal, and was a

lifelong area resident. He graduated from South High School class of 1949. He also was a graduate from

Youngstown College with a bachelors in business, where he met the love of his life, Joann Fabian. They

Married on July 4, 1956, and were married for 60 years before her passing in 2016. Larry was also

enlisted in the Army during the Korean War.

Larry was one of a kind, always offering help when needed, and never saying no to a challenge. He loved

to entertain with his wife by his side, and was always creative in everything he did. He loved spending

time with his family whether for a family dinner or on vacation, and loved sharing his knowledge of old

cars and history with them.

His favorite pastime was his antique cars. Restoring and touring with them throughout the years. He and

his wife Joann participated in nine transcontinental tours in North America, driving across the United

States and Canada, and two tours in England and Ireland. All driving his 1912 Red Cadillac, restored and

maintained by Larry. Larry also toured with his 1915 Model T on many many other tours, often including

his family in his love for the hobby. Larry also enjoyed skiing in his younger years, introducing his entire

family and anyone else he could to the sport. Larry was one of the founding members of St. Michels Boy

Scout Troop 115, of which his co-founders would become his lifelong friends. Larry was also a founding

member of the Meander Antique Car Club, planning some spectacular tours and entertainment for their

participants, even enacting a faux circus with an inflatable elephant at one of the banquets.

Larry O’Neal ran and operated O’Neal Tarpaulin and Awning Company, based in Youngstown, for 50

years. During his time there he invented and patented the AirLocke Dock Seal (an inflated dock seal on

loading dock doors). He also was president of the regional Professional Awning Manufacturers

Association.

If you go for an MRI in an off-site trailer, you will pass through an AirLocke dock seal. And if you

remember the space shuttle in the 1980’s, you will also see an AirLocke Dock Seal where the astronauts

enter the shuttle. Larry would always give JoAnn credit for his idea of inflating things after she asked him

to put a large, inflatable snowman in the front yard for Christmas one year.

At this time there will be no calling hours. A service will be had at St Micheal’s Friday Sept. 22, at 10 a.m.

Larry leaves behind his son Dan (Tula Arfaras) O’Neal; and daughter Marijo O’Neal (Marty) Rischar,

granddaughters Erin (Kyle) Dickey, Haley and Shannon Rischar; grandson Daniel (Jessica) O’Neal, and his

great granddaughter Claire Dickey.

Larry was preceded in death by his father and mother Earl and Agnes (Kirkwood) O’Neal, his wife Joann

(Fabian) O’Neal and son Greg (Christine) O’Neal.