Barton W. MacNeill  

STURGIS — Dr. Barton W. MacNeill of Sturgis passed away 
at his farm on Friday, Sept. 20, after a short illness. 

Visitation will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. today at Welch Funeral 
Home in Starkville.  

Services will be conducted at 3 p.m. at the Chapel of Memories 
on the Mississippi State University campus on Sunday, Sept. 23. 
Bro. Russell Mord will conduct the services. Burial will be at the 
cemetery on the family farm, Belle Lea Acres, outside of Sturgis.

Dr. MacNeill was born on Feb. 20, 1923, in Camden, N.J., the son 
of Forrest W. MacNeill and Hannah L. MacNeill. He graduated from 
Penns Grove, N.J., High School in 1940 and shortly thereafter entered 
the United States Army Air Force.  

During World War II, he served his country as a co-pilot on a
B-17 bomber. He flew 16 bombing missions over Europe in 1944 
before being shot down on his 17th mission in November 1944. 
After he and his crew were shot down, he was imprisoned in various 
German prisoner of war camps until the end of the war.  He also 
participated in a relief mission over Warsaw, Poland, in 1944 for 
which he later received a special medal from the Polish government. 

For his service during World War II, Dr. MacNeill received the 
Purple Heart, the Air Medal and several other decorations.
Dr. MacNeill served in the Air Force until 1963. At that time, 
he retired, having achieved the rank of major. He served at various 
air bases around the world, including Fort Stewart, Georgia; Kadena 
Air Force Base, Okinawa; Harlingen Air Force Base, Texas; and 
Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas, from which he retired.

After Dr. MacNeill retired from the Air Force, he chose to 
make his home and raise his children in Mississippi.  He went 
back to school on the GI Bill and he eventually earned his bachelor’s 
degree, master’s degree and doctoral degree in educational psychology 
from Mississippi State University.  

Thereafter, he achieved status as a tenured professor at Mississippi 
State University, serving in the Department of Continuing Education.  
He retired from Mississippi State University in 1985. 
After retirement, Dr. MacNeill spent his time enjoying his wife, 
children and grandchildren at his farm. He also enjoyed hunting and traveling. 

Dr. MacNeill is survived by his widow, Katherine Read MacNeill. 
His surviving children, all born of his marriage with Jean Turner MacNeill 
(deceased), are as follows: Dr. Nancy MacNeill of Columbus; John and 
Amy MacNeill and family, of Ridgeland; Cindy and John Moon and family, 
of Lafayette, La.; Linda and Chuck Barrett and family, of Caledonia; Becky 
and James Takayesu and family, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; Bill and Beth MacNeill 
and family, of Sturgis; and Ellie and William F. Massey, III and family 
of Meridian.  
Dr. MacNeill was pre-deceased by another child, Major (USAF) Allen F. MacNeill 
and a sister, Doris Smith, of Penns Grove, N.J.  Dr. MacNeill is also survived by his 
sister, Elinor Boress, of Redlands, Calif. and several grandchildren and step-children.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. MacNeill’s honor to the 
Mississippi State University Department of Education.