Neal Warren Grubaugh, former mayor of Ozark, died Feb. 14 at Mercy Hospital Springfield. He was 89.
Grubaugh served as mayor of the southwest Missouri town 1982-90 and also held a position on the city's board of aldermen. He also was a board member of the Springfield-Branson National Airport 2000-09, according to his obituary posted on the
Web site of Adams Funeral Home in Ozark.
Two visitations are scheduled 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Adams Funeral Home Ozark Chapel, 504 W. Walnut St. in Ozark. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 18, with interment and military honors immediately following at Richwood Cemetery, west of Ozark. In lieu of flowers, Grubaugh's family is requesting that donations be made to Ozark Christian Church, the Christian Family Church, the Finley River Community Foundation or the Parkinson's Disease Research Foundation.
Prior to serving as mayor of Ozark, Grubaugh had an extensive career in the the U.S. Army. After graduating from Ozark High School in 1940, Grubaugh enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp., where he trained as an aircraft mechanic. During World War II, Grubaugh served in the Pacific and North African theaters, and he also was involved in military conflicts during the early 1970s. He rose to the rank of colonel in the Air Force before retiring in 1982, according to his obituary.
While serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Grubaugh taught history at Pipkin Middle School and Central and Parkview high schools before becoming an assistant principal of Hillcrest High School in 1966. He also retired from education in 1982.
Grubaugh also served as a pastor for Elkland Christian Church 1974-89 and Ozark Christian Church 1989-94. At Ozark Christian Church, Grubaugh was a pastor emeritus until his death, according to his obituary.
Grubaugh was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Betty, four siblings and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by his three children - his son, Tom, and his wife, Amy; his daughter, Susan, and her husband, Curtis Lemmon; and his son Myron, and his wife, Sharon - four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.[[In-content Ad]]