Daniel Childress McNeil

Daniel Childress McNeil, 92, of Atlanta, Georgia, was born in Jackson, Mississippi on February 20, 1925. A World War II veteran, he served in the United States Army from 1942 through 1945 as a Troop Transit Officer and was honorably discharged as a 2nd Lieutenant. After the war, he re-entered the Georgia Institute of Technology from which he was graduated in industrial engineering in 1949.

His wife of 53 years, Dolly Wilson McNeil, predeceased him in 2002. They were married at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1949. Surviving are his children, Maureen McNeil Langlois of Satellite Beach, Florida, Kathleen McNeil Schafer of Cocoa Beach, Florida, and Daniel Wilson McNeil of Morgantown, West Virginia; grandchildren Jennifer Lynn Riley of Montréal, Quebec, Patrick Francis Riley, of Los Altos, California, Daniel Jackson McNeil of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Wilson Holland McNeil of Morgantown, West Virginia; great-grandchild, Quinn Elizabeth Riley of Los Altos, California; sons- and daughters-in-law, Joseph Langlois of Satellite Beach, Florida, Earl James Schafer of Cocoa Beach, Florida, and Cheryl Bodiford McNeil of Morgantown, West Virginia; as well as granddaughter-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Riley of Los Altos, California.

Danny founded “The Dan McNeil Company” in Atlanta in the 1960s, and continued as its president through his retirement in 1993. He was active in ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating and Refrigeration Engineers, and was a “Life Member,” awarded its Regional Award of Merit in 1981, the Distinguished Service Award in 1992, and served on its Board of Governors for several years. In 1976-1977, Danny was president of the Atlanta chapter of ASHRAE. In 1984-1985, he was president of the Buckhead chapter of the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers. He was an active member of Christ the King Cathedral parish. During his life, he was active in the service organization, Optimist International, and was involved in the Atlanta History Center’s “Current Historians.” Danny was a Scout as a youth, and served the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) as an Assistant Scoutmaster and District Chairman for the Polaris District of the Atlanta Area Council. He was a Vigil Honor member of the BSA’s service organization, the Order of the Arrow, and a recipient of the District Award of Merit. At Georgia Tech, he was active in the Kappa Alpha Order, and served as its Number I. Known as “GP” (for grandpa) once he had grandchildren, he was a devoted husband, father, and friend. Danny was known for his enjoyment of people around him, his avid fishing interests and skills, and his cheerful love of life.

A funeral service will be held at 10 am on Thursday December 14 at the Cathedral of Christ the King. The family will receive visitors at Patterson Spring Hill Funeral Home on Wednesday December 13 from 5 to 7 pm, with a rosary at 7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Christ the King Cathedral “Continue His Mission” capital campaign.