William D. O’Neil

William Donald O’Neil, 85, of Hendersonville, passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at Carolina Village Medical Center. A native of Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late Thomas and Clara Curtin O’Neill. He was also preceded in death by his son William D. O’Neil, Jr. and his son-in-law James Irvin.

Prior to moving to Hendersonville in 1987, he resided in Center Moriches, NY and attended City College of NY. He was a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force during the Korean War and was employed by the US Department of Defense for 35 years as a Quality Assurance Specialist. His children were particularly proud of his work as part of a large team of dedicated people who built the Lunar Excursion Module that took Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the Moon.

He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church.

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Catherine L. O’Neil; children, Karen Irvin, and Richard O’Neil both of Salem, VA and his daughter-in-law Jane Jacobs of New York, NY; grandchildren Jillian O’Neil Nussbaum, Jordan O’Neil, and Olivia O’Neil, all of New York, NY; two great grandchildren, and one brother, Thomas E. O’Neil.

A funeral mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. on February 26, 2016, at St. James Episcopal Church with the Rev. Joel Hafer officiating. Interment will take place in the church Memorial Garden.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society by CLICKING HERE .