Dorothy Reynolds O'Neil

Dorothy Reynolds O’Neil, 88 of 413 Tower Hill Road, North Kingstown, RI passed away on Saturday February 1st, 2025, after a brief illness. Dorothy “June” Reynolds was born on April 12, 1936, to Dorothy May Rice and Alfred Harrison Reynolds of Wickford, RI at Providence Lying-In Hospital, Providence, RI. June attended North Kingstown High School where she met the love of her life, George T. O’Neil, Jr. George and June were married on December 12, 1953, and shared 58 wonderful years together until his passing on July 17, 2011, at age 77. June prospered during those early years in pre-war Wickford, as the daughter of a commercial fisherman and textile designer. She was active in 4-H with horses, friends, and schoolmates that even until her passing came to visit her and shared their lives. June overcame many challenges from a modest start to becoming a prominent dog breeder of Field Spaniels at her Wicksford Kennels. Early in their marriage, June worked at Hamilton Web Textile Mill while George worked at different jobs and with June’s support, the two made the decision for George to attend the University of RI on scholarship to become a much-needed teacher. Those were hard, lean years and often short on cash, their sons recall the family digging quahaugs for sale at Galilee in southern RI’s Bluff Hill Cove to make extra cash. That is how they were able to hold the family over until the next paycheck. However, by 1964 George was a high school teacher at Cranston West High School in Cranston, RI and like many teachers, with June’s help built a tax accounting practice on the side. June and George were then able to turn more of their attention to raising their three young boys and their dogs. Dogs, especially Spaniels, were June’s passion. Among her many accomplishments, in 1970 she and George formed Wicksford Kennels and were founding members of the Field Spaniel Society of America. Amazingly, Wicksford Kennels has produced over 100 AKC Champions as well as many Performance and Field competitors. June was also very proud of the Field Spaniel she placed with a member of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Management that was trained to find weapons and ammunition and quite often showed up the German Shepherds. In 1983 June and George were fortunate to raise and campaign a male Field Spaniel named “Leslie” who went on to the highest levels of success and won Best of Breed at the Westminster Dog Show five years running, considered the pinnacle of achievement for any breeder as well as the Field Spaniel Society of America’s National Specialty. The Wicksford dogs can be found in the pedigrees of many of today’s top Field Spaniels. June was so proud of the accomplishments of her dogs not only in the show ring, but in all areas of performance as well as being loving pets. She strove to produce a healthy Field Spaniel that would be competitive in the show ring but also a wonderful long-lived companion. June and George carved a life for themselves and through hard work, sacrifice and persistence, they raised a family and not only built a successful family, but the reputation of Wicksford Kennels, which is known throughout the United States. June is survived by three sons, George T. O’Neil, III of Thompson, CT and his wife Sandra, Mark A. O’Neil of Erie, PA and his wife Catherine, and Patrick R. O’Neil of Old Lyme, CT as well as six grandchildren Mary C. Williams of New Hartford, NY and her husband Jarrod, Elizabeth R. O’Neil, of New Hartford, NY, Christopher T. O’Neil of North Haven, CT, Caitlin E. O’Neil of Waltham, MA, Kyle P. O’Neil of Waltham, MA, and Caleigh M. O’Neil of Old Lyme, CT and two great grandchildren, Lyra M. Williams and Silas P. Williams of New Hartford, NY. Services will be private for family and friends with internment in the family plot at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Exeter, RI followed by a Celebration of Life to be held at a future date to be announced.

Dorothy Reynolds O'Neil

February 1, 2025