🌟 Resident of the Month Spotlight: David McGee 🌟
David McGee was born in Marietta and grew up in Smyrna, where he lived through the 1960s. The middle child between two sisters. David attended Campbell High School and graduated in 1965.
The family always had pets, particularly dogs, and one special cat named Butchie. Butchie became the subject of a favorite family anecdote when he went into the woods in the backyard and brought two baby rabbits up to the house. They were completely unharmed and made comfortable in a cardboard box. David’s mother later wrote about the family adventure in graduate school, calling it “The Tale of a Cat.”
When the family was not adopting strays, they would often vacation in the Appalachian Mountains, particularly camping in the Great Smoky Mountains. David’s parents insisted that sightseeing should be focused on natural sights and historic places.
One of David’s first jobs was delivering prescriptions for Atkins Pharmacy in Smyrna and Marietta, which was more like a hobby because he liked to drive and always liked cars and trucks.
During his teens and twenties, David became a Ham radio operator and connected with people around the world who enjoyed the same hobby. He also enjoyed building and flying model airplanes with a close friend named Skip, often using open fields near the old Brawner Hospital.
In 1966, David joined the Army. He trained at Fort Benning in Georgia and Fort Monmouth in New Jersey before spending a year in Korea working in communications. He returned home in 1968.
Not long after buying his first home in Smyrna, David took up photography, eventually building a darkroom in his basement. He gravitated toward black-and-white photography. and experimented with various exposure techniques. His color photos tended to focus on close-ups of wildlife and floral subjects.
After several years of marriage, David divorced in the 1970s and later relocated to North Canton, Ohio, to continue his work with Diebold. David moved into the training area and, while there, designed an innovative training room that featured video setups at each trainee’s desk. This allowed trainees to watch detailed demonstrations from David and other instructors. His work eventually took him abroad, and he spent several years living in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok, training bank employees throughout the Pacific Region who used Diebold’s systems.
When he returned to the United States, David shifted his creative energy to woodworking. His former darkroom became a small workshop where he built tables, chairs, and a desk from different types of wood. David continued his interest in motor vehicles remained, but by this time, his truck was his “ride of choice.”
In April, David made the meaningful move from Ohio back to Georgia, returning to his hometown and bringing great joy to his family, who are grateful to have him close once again.
David likes to go on bus rides, out to lunch, and likes music activities. These moments bring him joy and keep him engaged with the community
If you or an aging loved one is considering moving to an Assisted Living Facility for Elder Care Services in Smyrna, GA, please get in touch with the caring staff at Woodland Ridge today. 770-431-7055
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