Neil H. Tracy
Neil H. Tracy, age 85, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at Preakness Healthcare Center in Wayne. Born on Oct. 15, 1929, in Short Hills to the late Irving and Bertha (Anderson) Tracy, Mr. Tracy graduated from Short Hills High School and had served in the United States Navy from 1948 to 1952. While in the Navy, he served on the USS Missouri and fought in the Korean War. He married Barbara Jean Hall in 1953 and they resided in Summit and Warren Township before moving to Wantage Township in 1973. For all of his career, he was employed by Jersey Central Power and Light Company in various locations, including Summit, Gillette, Morristown, Franklin and Dover and retired in 1992.
Mr. Tracy was a member of the Sussex United Methodist Church for over 43 years, where he served as a trustee for several years and on many other committees. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 213 in Wantage, where he served in various positions, including commander.
Mr. Tracy, a freemason for more than 50 years, belonging to the former Samaritan Lodge No. 98 in Hardyston and also the Grand Masonic Lodge.
He also was an avid gardener and movie goer. Besides being predeceased by his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Keith Tracy. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara of Wantage; his children, Bonnie Jablonski and her husband, Jim, of Seaside Park; Wayne Tracy and his wife, Joann, of Wantage, and Tami Waltke and her husband, Eric, of Vero Beach, Fla., and Kim Mikulski of Wantage; his brother, Donald Tracy and his wife, Mary, of Chatham; and 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 20, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at the Pinkel Funeral Home, 31 Bank Street (Route 23), Sussex. Interment will follow at Somerset Hills Memorial Park in Basking Ridge. Friends may pay their respects to the family on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Sussex United Methodist Church, 15 Bank Street, Sussex, NJ 07461. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.pinkelfuneralhome.com.