April 10, 2012

John Neal Looney, 79, of Decatur died Tue., April 10, 2012, at Decatur General Hospital after a brief illness.

He was born March 14, 1933, at his paternal grandmother’s home on Pattillo Street in Hartselle. Although she died when he was only three, he remembered her and often spoke of her and her love for him. He was her first grandchild and the only one she lived to know.

Mr. Looney retired from ITT Corporation in 1996 and had lived in Houghton Lake, Mich., before returning to Alabama to live with his sister, Sarah, in 2006. He was a lifelong fisherman and hunter and loved the Detroit Pistons basketball and Detroit Tigers baseball teams.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Anderson Looney and Beatrice Johnson Looney; a brother, Doyle Anderson Looney; and his wife of 42 years, Betty Orr Looney.

He is survived by his only sister, Sarah Looney Gupton of Decatur; four brothers, Donald J. Looney and wife Lana of Tampa, Fla., Vernon W. Looney and wife Brenda of Au Gres, Mich., Robert “Bobby” W. Looney and wife Nancy of Hartselle and Forrest E. Looney of Eva; and many nephews, nieces and grandnephews and grandnieces.

No funeral was held.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Disabled American veterans.