David Carl Traeger

David Carl Traeger, 70, of Cumming, Georgia, beloved husband of Tammy Tucker Traeger, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 26, 2025.
When asked, David would describe himself as "just a guitar player," but in addition to his talents as a musician, David was a consummate sales professional, an indefatigable handyman and problem-solver, a skilled RC pilot, the perfect husband, and a true gentleman who enriched the lives of everyone who had the privilege of knowing and loving him. He adored his wife and their Shetland sheepdogs, and was happiest just being together at home.
David was the embodiment of the Biblical fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. He lived his life according to the teachings of Jesus Christ and was surely embraced upon his arrival in Heaven as a good and faithful servant. David's loved ones, friends, and colleagues here will treasure his memory while he is reuniting with those who went on before him and whom he has missed so much.
David was born in San Antonio, Texas, and his family moved to Spain when David's father was stationed in Madrid in the 1960s. There, David became a professional musician, playing guitar in bands that toured dance clubs and military bases across Europe and then playing many years with Johnny Lyon's Country Nu-Notes around Austin after David returned to Texas in 1978. Because David's incredible skill and love for the guitar was honed during his youth, his natural ability to easily play across multiple musical genres was remarkable and a joy to hear; the sound of his playing will be sorely missed.
David recently retired from the professional audio-video and unified communications industry after 40 years, where his sales skills and technical knowledge combined with his kindness, warmth, and genuine love of people to make him a cherished team leader, mentor, and friend.
Late in his lifelong career in the A/V field, David's love of playing guitar was rekindled in 2008 at open mic nights during his time residing in metro Atlanta; he met his future wife, Tammy, at an open mic where they fell madly in love, married, and made music together until David's death.
When he was not playing, writing, and recording music, repairing everything around the house, or working on anything with a gasoline-powered engine, David was flying radio-controlled aircraft, a passion he discovered as a boy. He loved the intricacies and detail of building RC helicopters and airplanes, especially Warbirds, and flew them at every opportunity, in his own backyard and with other RC enthusiasts who shared David's indescribable joy of flying.
David was preceded in death by his father, Robert Lee Traeger; his paternal grandparents, Paul Fred Traeger, Sr. (Opa) and Hilda Eleanore Matheaus Traeger (Oma); his maternal grandparents, Edwin Hermann Ferdinand Barthold and Lydia Anne Schultze Barthold; his dear uncle, Paul Fred Traeger, Jr.; and three Shetland sheepdogs, Hunter, Lucy, and Tucker, who have all been waiting at the bridge to joyously greet David again.
Left behind to cherish David's memory are his wife, of the home; his mother, Lorene Barthold Traeger, of Bixby, Oklahoma; one brother, of Oklahoma; one sister and one adopted daughter, both of Texas; three aunts and one uncle, Melba Dunn, Nancy Traeger, Lucille (and David) Howard, and Delbert (and Beth) Traeger, all of Texas; three brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law, all of Hartwell, Georgia; multiple beloved cousins; and countless friends, other relatives, and former colleagues.
A private service is planned, and an online tribute to David can be found at www.tammyanddavid.com.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in David's name to Austin Sheltie Rescue, PO Box 27872, Austin, TX 78755 or donate online at www.sheltierescuetx.org.
Arrangements are in the care of McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Dr. Cumming, GA 30040, 770-886-9899, mcdonaldandson.com.