Neil C. Bear

February 5, 1937 - February 16, 2020

Neil C. Bear, 83, of Fort Wayne, died at 10:15 p.m. Sunday, February 16, 2020 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. Masonic graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 22, 2020 in Zion Cemetery in Huntington County with Pastor Bobby Kemp officiating. Neil was born on February 5, 1937 in Huntington County, the son of Sebastian R. “Bass” and Ruth (Dunwoody) Bear. He graduated from Roanoke High School in 1955 and worked as a truck driver at General Electric for 30 years, retiring in 1992; he was a member of the Quarter Century Club. He was a 50-year member of the Roanoke Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite Valley of Fort Wayne, and the Mizpah Shriner’s Temple, having given generously to the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children. He was active with Honor Flight of Northeast Indiana and Washington D.C. and the Captor Rehab Program. His love of traveling led him to all 50 states and several foreign countries. Survivors include his lifelong companion, Melvis Thompson of Fort Wayne, a daughter, Julie Hoffman of Roanoke, a close friend Chris Stephan of Huntington, three grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, a son, Carl Bear, a brother, and a sister.