Neill J. Willoughby

Neill J. Willoughby, 82, of Cambridge passed away on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at Perry Point Medical Center. He was born in Cambridge on October 18, 1930 to the late Howard and Helen Duncan Willoughby.

He attended and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1949. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force. During that time, he served a tour of duty in Korea. He was stationed at McChord Air Force Base in Washington until he was honorably discharged in 1952. After he was discharged, he returned to Maryland. Mr. Willoughby joined the U.S. Army Reserves in 1956. He went to officer training school (OCS) in Fort Benning, Georgia in 1956. Upon graduation from OCS he received his commission as a second lieutenant. He became a full time active duty soldier in 1961, when the Berlin crisis occurred. He went to Germany in 1963 and was there for 18 months. Mr. Willoughby briefly came back to the U.S. before he went to Vietnam. He had 3 tours of duty in Vietnam; from January 1966-January 1967, August 1967-August 1968 and January 1970-December 1970. After rising through the ranks he became a major. He served his last tour in Fort Meade, MD until he retired in 1977 after 26 years of service. Mr. Willoughby was honored with the following medals for his service: The Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal W/60 Device, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Pain Unit Citation, Army Commendation Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, American Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star with 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal, Korea Presidential Unit Citation and Staff Service Medal. After his military career, he worked for the State of Maryland in the Dept. of Juvenile Services from 1977-1995. He was an avid golfer. Mr. Willoughby was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post #91 and Choptank Memorial Post #7460 VFW and a lifetime member of the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #1272.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years Mary A. Bishop Willoughby of Cambridge, a daughter Catherine Turner of Salisbury, a son Richard Haulet of Wilkeson, Washington, five grandsons of Carbonado, Washington, three nieces Adrienne Kawamura of Seattle, Washington, Donna Willoughby of Charlotte, NC, and LeAnn McWilliams of Cambridge, two nephews Scott Willoughby of Cambridge, and Mark Hurley of Myrtle Beach, NC, a sister Shirley Hurley and husband James of Cambridge, and a brother Howard Willoughby of Cambridge.

Family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with a funeral service to follow on Monday, April 22, 2013 at Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge with Rev. A. Delmer Willey, Jr. officiating. Interment will be 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23 at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery near Hurlock. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Parkinson's Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or to the Baywater Animal Rescue, 4930 Bucktown Road, Cambridge, MD 21613.