Neal F. Current

Neal Freeman Current, a resident of Goleta, CA since 1957 passed away on 13 November 2024. He was 94 years old. Neal was born in Beaumont, Texas on 20 March 1930 and grew up mostly in Albuquerque New Mexico. He attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and through Naval ROTC got his Commission in the US Navy. He married Frances Josephine Thornton of El Paso Texas on 1 October 1951 and they moved to Miramar, California in compliance with Navy orders. He was intensely proud to serve his country and, after leaving active service, Neal stayed in the naval reserves for more than 20 years. His civilian career was in defense electronics at Hughes Aircraft Company and Santa Barbara Research Center (SBRC) in Goleta where he led design, development, and integration of sensors into early U.S. space vehicles.

Neal and Frances had five children; Dorothy Turner (Tom), born 1953, Neal, Jr, born 1954, John (Nancy), born 1956, Ken, born 1957 (deceased 2021), and Thomas (Bea), born 1958.

Throughout his life Neal was an outdoors enthusiast and loved jogging on the beaches and trails of Santa Barbara County and backpacking with his children in the high Sierras. He taught his children to enjoy the outdoors also, specifically backpacking, hunting, fishing, and all athletic/sports activities. He was a handyman extraordinaire and could fix anything. For such a brilliant and focused person, Neal also had a silly sense of humor. His family can still sing his funny paraphrases of children’s songs.

Neal is survived by Frances, his wife of 72 years, who misses him deeply. He is also survived by and greatly missed by his children, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Neal’s funeral Mass will be at St. Raphael Catholic Church at 5444 Hollister Ave in Goleta at 10:00AM on 11 December 2024. In lieu of flowers and cards, the family requests consideration of a donation to Sarah House Santa Barbara in memory of Neal.
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