Neal N. Whorton
1942-2010
Neal Nathan Whorton, age 67, died January 11, 2010, in a Seattle hospital following a long illness.
Neal was born in Aberdeen to Carl and Leola (Herbig) Whorton on February 26, 1942. He graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1960. He displayed a 1960 Aberdeen High School reunion sign in his front yard for every reunion.
Neal grew up in Central Park and started his strong work ethic at an early age by becoming the head caddy at the Grays Harbor Country Club. He worked for Bigelow’s Chevrolet in their gas station, and then became a journeyman body and fender man.
In 1964 Neal married Bonnie Lou Aho of Aberdeen. they had three children: Nathan, Natalie and Noel.
In 1963 Neal had bought a home and land that would become his business. Each night Neal would shovel a pickup box load of dirt from his parents’ house and unload it at his home. When he had enough land cleared and filled, Neal and Bonnie started Sideline Auto Wrecking. He eventually left Bigelow’s to run his “Sideline” as a fulltime business.
As the business grew, Neal became known as “Good Deal Neal” after a sign was painted on the back of one of his wreckers “For a Good Deal, See Neal”. Neal owned and operated his business for over 40 years.
Neal and Bonnie built a summer home on Lost Lake. Many happy days and nights were spent there with family and friends. Neal’s greatest pleasure was in sharing good times at the lake house, his home and at the wrecking yard. Friday nights were always a time for enjoying a well-deserved end to a week. Neal was a man that never turned away when a friend asked for help. He helped many customers who had trouble paying for auto parts.
Neal took evening woodworking classes and learned how to build furniture, and he learned to speak Spanish fluently. Neal traveled extensively in South and Central America, visiting Machu Pichu and Cuba several times. Wherever Neal traveled, he made new friends. Several trips were made along the Amazon River, where he would give clothing and toys to children along the way, as well as taking pictures of the pink dolphins.
In keeping with his skill as a body man, he restored a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, and he helped each of his children restore a classic car for their first automobile.
After Bonnie’s passing, Neal married Angela Padilla Garrido, December 3, 2005 in Hawaii. Angela worked with Neal and they enjoyed traveling both in the U.S. and Mexico. They owned a home in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico, which they remodeled and restored together. On a couple occasions they drove from Aberdeen to Chetumal, a distance of over 2,800 miles!
Neal and Angela enjoyed trips to New York City and Victoria. Neal enjoyed Angela’s authentic Mexican cooking, especially her ceviche.
Neal loved his family, his parrots and especially his dogs, Barney and Max. He was a past member of the Central Park Methodist Church where his parents were founders. He also served in the Washington State National Guard.
Neal was preceded in death by his mother, father, and his first wife, Bonnie. He is survived by his sons Nathan of Aberdeen and Noel of Seattle, a daughter Natalie Doll of Cosmopolis; grandchildren Neal Docsanes, Zoe, Ruby and Nolan Whorton; brother Dean of Winlock and Wayne of Cupertino, California, and his wife Angela and her children Irving, Edwin and Salimar Osorio.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, January 14th, at the Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam.
A memorial service is set for 10 a.m. Friday, January 15, 2010 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aberdeen, followed by a graveside service at Hoquiam’s Sunset Memorial Park. A reception follows at St. Mary’s.
Donations in Neal’s memory are suggested to Camp Bishop, in care of the YMCA Of Grays Harbor, 2500 Simpson Ave., Hoquiam, WA. 98550.
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