Eugene Russell "Skip" Mcdannald

Eugene Russell (Skip) McDannald, Jr., 85, died peacefully at home in Dunwoody, Georgia, September 23, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Harriotte Dodson McDannald and their children, Mary Archer McDannald Conlon of Fernandina Beach, FL; George Hunt McDannald of Dunwoody, GA; a sister Charlotte Mitchell of Suffolk, VA; nieces and nephews. Dr. McDannald was predeceased by his parents Eugene Russell and Amelia Lowery McDannald of Halifax, VA; as well as his beloved aunt and uncle, Mickey and George Hunt of Virginia Beach, VA; a sister, Virginia Miller of Colorado and his son-in-law Thomas John Conlon, Jr.

Dr. McDannald was born in Richmond, VA, July 23,1939, and grew up in Halifax County, where he graduated from Halifax County High School in 1957. He was a 1961 graduate of Virginia Military Institute, located in Lexington, VA. In 1965 he graduated from the Medical College of Virginia, where he subsequently completed his internship and residency under Dr. David Hume. Dr. McDannald was honored to serve in the Special Forces of the United States Army and volunteered to go to Vietnam where he set up a hospital in Bien Hoa to care for indigenous forces. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for meritorious service and the Purple Heart for being wounded in action. He was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Colonel and subsequently served in the U.S. Army Reserves. Until 1988, Dr. McDannald practiced vascular and general Surgery in Roanoke, VA, after which he took a medical products company public. In 1995 he received his Masters in Hospital Administration from the University of Colorado. Armed with this skill, over the years he consulted with four troubled hospital systems in West Virginia, Maryland and Georgia helping each make their system financially profitable. He chaired the American Red Cross board in Middle Georgia and was a life-long Episcopalian serving on the vestries of two Episcopal churches in middle Georgia and as Senior Warden of St. Luke's Hawkinsville. Having long been an avid hunter and fisherman, during retirement he farmed pine trees and raised chickens in the rural setting of Hawkinsville, Georgia. Aside from keeping a vegetable garden going thanks to John Deere, keeping food plots growing for eight natural coveys of quail was of utmost importance. What a thrill to hear the call of bobwhite on a daily basis! He had the pleasure of teaching anatomy and physiology as a volunteer to precocious students at Hawkinsville High School. Thereafter he was honored by the House of Delegates of the Georgia General Assembly for this volunteer effort. He was happy to offer employment to four of these students at Taylor Regional Hospital. During the 2021 Covid pandemic, he and his wife Harriotte moved to Dunwoody, GA, to join their son Hunt.

Many thanks go to Skip and Harriotte's children who were magnificent caregivers and to the doctors, nurses, and staff of Emory Hospital and Gentiva Hospice.

Clark Funeral Home has the privilege of being entrusted with arrangements.