James Edward Neal Jr.

James E. Neal Jr., 93, passed away on October 1, 2026. He was born on April 23, 1933, to James E. Neal Sr. and Lois C. Neal.

Jim graduated from Libbey High School and earned a B.B.A. from the University of Toledo and a master's degree in labor and industrial relations from the University of Illinois.

While in college, Jim met Dorothy J. Evanoff at a Sigma Phi Epsilon-Alpha Chi Omega dance. They became college sweethearts and shared nearly 60 years of marriage before Dorothy's passing in 2016.

Jim spent 30 years with Champion Spark Plug Company, holding a variety of marketing and sales positions. A gifted writer and communicator, he wrote marketing and sales materials, articles, speeches, and corporate communications throughout his career.

In 1978, he founded Neal Publications Inc. in Perrysburg, through which he wrote and published eight business books. His best known work, Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals, became widely used by managers and organizations, reached No. 2 on BusinessWeek's bestseller list, and sold two million copies. Jim continued working well into his later years, retiring at age 90.

Jim and Dorothy loved to travel and enjoyed cruises around the world, with London holding a special place in their hearts. Their family shared many memorable vacations at their homes in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, and on Hemlock Lake in Michigan.

An avid sports fan, Jim especially loved college football. With one child a University of Michigan graduate and the other an Ohio State graduate, a friendly family rivalry added to his enjoyment of the game.

Jim also had a passion for investing in the stock market and enjoyed sharing what he had learned with younger generations. He often emphasized patience, choosing quality companies, reinvesting dividends, and investing for the long term.

Jim was an active tennis player for many years and a longtime member of the Inverness Club.

A resident of Perrysburg for over 65 years, Jim was a founding member of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church. He also supported the Cleveland Clinic and served for several years on a national leadership board.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy. He is survived by his daughter, Lynette Neal (Brent Anderson); his son, David Neal (Rose); and his five grandchildren, Greg, Kate, Emily, Tommy, and Lexi.

Services for James will be private. Condolences may be made online to the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.