Olin McDaniel

MCDANIEL, Olin Adams

Olin Adams McDaniel, age 82, resident of Atlanta and Senoia, Georgia. Olin passed from mortal life Sunday, January 12, 2025, Peachtree City, Georgia, from heart failure and complications due to liver cancer. Olin was in Hospice Care much of 2024, first at home in Senoia and then at Southland Health and Rehabilitation Center in Peachtree City. Olin was born October 19,1942 to Willis Olin (1912-2006) and Emma Sue Adams McDaniel (1916-2019) in Augusta, Georgia (Camp Gordon Military Hospital). Olin's surviving family includes his sister, Barbara Jean McDaniel Ray, Ph.D., resident of Atlanta, GA (widow of Dale Carney Ray, Sr.); three nephews, a grandnephew and three grandnieces. Nephews are, Dale Carney Ray, Jr. (Carol Denise Johnson Ray), Randolph Richard "Randy" Ray, deceased 2017. Gregory Olin Ray and Geoffrey Andrew Ray. Olin's family often relocated in military service with Olin living In Georgia, Mississippi, Japan, Maryland, New Mexico, Texas, Italy, and Colorado. He was 15 when his parents settled permanently in the inherited Travis-McDaniel ancestral home in Senoia, Georgia. Olin owned and resided in homes in the neighborhoods of Lake Claire/Candler Park and Virginia Highland. Olin was divorced with two marriages: 1965 to Alice Gough and 1980 to Patricia Pentecost. In time, Olin moved to Senoia to help his parents in their old age. Olin's elementary schooling began in Tokyo, Japan, during the Military Occupation. He completed high school at Southwest High School in Atlanta, Georgia. His college education included the Georgia Institute of Technology where he received the B.S. degree in Industrial Psychology with a minor in Management. In graduate school, he studied Foreign Languages at Georgia State College (now University), almost completing the Master's Degree program in German. He enjoyed exchange student opportunities in Europe, furthering his love of languages with Latin, German, French and Spanish. Learning continued for Olin as a dedicated reader of literature in those languages and in English. At the time of his loss of sight and growing frailty, Olin's book collection was vast and was then gifted to family, friends and charities. Being well read and well-travelled, Olin enjoyed broad friendships throughout his life where he was a great conversationalist and friend to many. Olin's health was challenged in early childhood with severe allergies leading to major respiratory illnesses. He survived with the dogged care from his mother Sue and military physicians. He suffered pneumonia and bronchitis countless times and in later years diabetes took his sight and mobility. As long as Olin could read, he did, and some TV coverage remained possible as sight dimmed. Along with sports viewing, Classic Movies were his favorite. He knew many of the best from silent movies forward, and each actor and actress. Olin had a near-extreme memory and put it to good use compensating as his sight was lost. Olin was known as well for his love of college and professional sports and was an avid golfer when young and active physically. As an Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Tech fan, he rarely missed the coverage of a game. Olin was very interested in "games of chance", studying the many systems related to "winning "and adding more travel opportunities. Since the 1990s as his health declined, Olin gained the further friendship and care support of two special women—first Bobbie Montgomery, and then Elizabeth Hale, CNA, joined Bobbie. Both of these women were not only caregivers and friends, but became family that will last well beyond this life. The celebration of Olin's life was graveside with his burial Sunday, January 19, 2025. His body rests next to those of his McDaniel, Travis and Vining ancestors in the Senoia City Cemetery, Stallings Road, Senoia, Georgia 30276. The service was officiated by the Reverend Ashley Jenkins, Chaplain, LaGrange College, LaGrange, Georgia. Mortuary services and burial were by Mowell Funeral Home, 200 Robinson Road, Peachtree City, Georgia 30269. Contributions in Olin's memory may be made to the Senoia United Methodist Church, 229 Bridge Street, Senoia, Georgia 30276. We welcome you to provide your condolences, thoughts, and memories on our Tribute Wall. Mowell Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Peachtree City, www.mowells.com