Cecil J. McFall, 89, of Dittmer died May 26, 2022, in Dittmer. Mr. McFall was a highly skilled laser beam welding professional of 30 years with McDonnell Douglas. He led the company’s U.S. welding operations, as well as its projects in Israel. He worked in the White Room with top security clearance, working on the first Tomahawk missile and space shuttle Mercury. He was a Christian and worked as a welding instructor at Lewis and Clark College in St. Charles as well as building a successful real estate business of 40 years. He loved to travel with his wife and children and went on trips to Hawaii, Niagara Falls, the Great Smoky Mountains and Pike’s Peak. He was known for his dancing, his sense of humor and for entertaining his family and friends. Born March 10, 1933, in Craighead County, Ark., he was the son of the late Arthur and Bessie (Gordon) McFall.
He is survived by his wife: Mary J. (Dial) McFall; three children: Michael C. (Nancy) McFall, Steven K. McFall and Donna G. (Mike) Orick; five grandchildren: Josh (Sarah) McFall, Adam (Jessie) McFall, Natalie Kuykendall, Travis (Samantha) Halton and Tyler (Stephanie) Halton; nine great-grandchildren: Jacob McFall, Matthew McFall, Landon Kuykendall, Emma McFall, Mason Branch, Lilianna Halton, Brantley Halton, Alea McFall and Asher Halton, with another on the way; two siblings: Reba (Roscoe) Cunningham and Ella Forest; and many extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by six siblings: Adrian McFall, Imagene (Bill) Willie, Murlene (Royce) Dial, Wayne McFall, Vadean Hammon and Mildred (Warren) Smith
Visitation is scheduled from 4-8p.m. Thursday, June 2, at Chapel Hill Mortuary, 6300 Hwy 30, in Cedar Hill. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 3, at the funeral home, followed by burial in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are under the direction of Chapel Hill Mortuary.