Neal Dwain Byington

Neal Dwain Byington passed away on Monday, November 18, 2024 at the age of 77 in Lodi, CA. The oldest child of Homer and Margaret (Dahnert) Byington, he was born in Wisconsin Rapids, WI on October 21, 1947. After completing his junior year of high school, he moved with his family to San Bernardino, CA. He received his A.B. in Chemistry from U.C. Berkeley in 1970. He met his wife, Janice, while attending graduate school and they were married in Lodi in 1973. In 1982 he received his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of the Pacific, completing the doctoral program simultaneously with his wife, both members of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. After graduating, Neal and Janice settled in Alameda and raised their daughter there before recently moving back to Lodi.

For nearly 40 years, he was the National Petroleum Chemist at the San Francisco Laboratory, Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (formerly U.S. Customs Service).

Chemistry may have been his passion but he had no shortage of hobbies. He spent years on various sailing crews racing in the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean. Neal was very active in numerous professional societies including the American Petroleum Institute and the American Chemical Society. Over the years, he held numerous positions within ACS and was named an ACS Fellow in 2024.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Janice (Imada) Byington of Lodi; daughter, Laura Byington of Melbourne, FL; brother Lester Byington of Albuquerque, NM; brother, Carl Byington of Littleton, CO; sister, Diane Byington of Reedsport, OR. He was preceded in death by his father Homer Byington, mother Margaret (Dahnert) Byington, and brother Loren Byington.

On Wednesday, December 11, 2024 funeral services will be held at the Green Acres Memorial Park in Bloomington, CA. Visitation will begin at 12 pm with funeral services starting at 1:15 pm, followed by a graveside burial at 2:45 pm. Green Acres Memorial Park is located at 11715 Cedar Ave. Bloomington, CA 92316. Immediately following the burial, at 4:30 pm, there will be a Celebration of Life Reception at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fontana, CA. Hilton Garden Inn is located at 10543 Sierra St. Fontana, CA 95237.

In lieu of flowers or koden, the family asks that donations be sent to:

California Section, American Chemical Society

2950 Merced St. Ste. 225, San Leandro, CA 94577

Please note in the memo section that the donation is in honor of Neal Byington. All donations will

fund outreach programs encouraging the next generation of chemists, something Neal was always passionate about.