Robert Terry Neal

Robert Terry Neal

Robert Terry Neal of Spicewood,  passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at the age of 72.

He was born and raised in Pe Ell, Washington, and obtained a degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the University of Washington in 1965. 

He worked for NASA where he held various mission operations positions, including: flight lead, project lead and management at the section, branch and division levels for all manned programs from Apollo 7 through mid-2005. 

From 1969 through 1972, he was assigned to temporary duty at the then Kennedy Space Center supporting Apollo Missions 11-17 in the areas of flight crew integration, vehicle and crew equipment test and checkout and astronaut training.

His specific areas of operational expertise included Apollo, Shuttle, and space station EVA (spacewalk) systems, the flight crew equipment in those programs (including the lunar module IVA and EVA equipment) and lunar surface operations.

He served as the lead EVA operations flight controller for the first Shuttle spacewalk, the first Manned Maneuvering Unit flight and the first satellite repair mission from the Shuttle.

He was instrumental in defining and conducting the International Space Station (ISS) assembly concepts and associated operations. He managed the combining of the Shuttle spacewalk and robotics operational areas into a single functional unit. 

Terry was primarily responsible for the justification, procurement and initial facility management for the Johnson Space Center Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. This facility has served as the primary spacewalk training facility in the International Space Station and Shuttle programs.

Terry is survived by: his wife, Mary; daughter and son-in-law, Brianne and Mohan Poole, of Spicewood; son and daughter-in-law, Derek and Lauren Neal, of League City, Texas; grandchildren, Mila Poole, Madison Poole, Anderson Neal and Aubrey Neal; brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Joan Neal of Pe Ell, Washington; sister and brother-in-law, Dixie and Dan Beesley, of Todedo, Washington, and nieces and nephews.

Terry was preceded in death by: his father, John C. Neal, and mother, Imogene Neal.

Memorial services will be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 20th of June 2015, in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard in Austin.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Heart Association or charity of one's choice.