Dan Maddox Sr.

Mr Dan Maddox Sr, age 87, of Stone Mountain Georgia passed away on May 30, 2018, of cardiac arrest after complications from a fall in his home. “GP” as his family called him was born in Evansville, Indiana to Susan Marie Egloff Maddox and Maitland Mahood Maddox. His father Maitland worked for the L&N railroad during the depression; this was a strong influence on GP as he loved trains and collecting railroad memorabilia throughout his entire life.

He married Joann Marie Zeller in 1952. Together they had 4 children over the next 8 years. His beloved wife of 55 years, pre-deceased him in 2006 and he was never the same. He wrote shortly after her death, to his only daughter, Rebecca Joan Maddox, of Naples Florida, “I will never get over your mother’s death.” And he didn’t. During her battle with stage 4 cancer, he was at her bedside everyday, all day, never wavering in his commitment and love.

GP served in the United States Army Reserve Corps from 1956-1957.

His career was divided into two parts.....the first part was as a manager and executive with Nabisco and Austin Biscuit Company, among others. As he was tapped for increasingly larger responsibilities and promoted regularly, the family moved and lived in multiple locations including Chicago, Westfield, New Jersey, Cary, North Carolina, Delaware, Ohio before settling in Atlanta.

Once he retired from corporate America, GP found his true love-real estate. He began buying rental properties in and around Stone Mountain. He renovated the properties and rented them for over 30 years. The family has been moved by the outpouring of emotions and stories about GPs generosity and kindness to so many of them over the years. According to his tenants he never passed up an opportunity to help....whether by a referral, a little extra payment, giving someone a second chance. Some took advantage of him but most used the opportunity to improve their lives and that was a source of great happiness for him and pride of family members.

GP was an avid collector of trains, railroad memorabilia especially the L&N line, pocket watches, toy soldiers and clocks that didn’t work. He would spend hours working on a clock to get it to run. He loved the challenge. He loved the folks in his clock group that met monthly. When asked what the clock group did, he would say, “work on clocks a little and swap a lot of old stories”.

He was a student of history, reading throughout his life about individuals who made a difference. Among his favorites were undoubtably Winston Churchill and the US Presidents.

In addition to his daughter, Rebecca Joan and Nancy Maddox, GP is survived by his three sons and Daughter-in -laws; Dan Jr and Deborah Maddox of Alpharetta, Georgia, Thomas P and Linda Maddox of Mooresville, North Carolina, Brian Lee and Patty Maddox of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Eight grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren along with his four grown children was the source of great pride for him. Asked shortly before his death, “Dad can you believe how well your kids and grandchildren turned out, how much they accomplished, how they grew into such successful people?” In what was his understated way of handing out compliments, he simply smiled.

Several days after GP died, his youngest great grandchild Mercedes Jeanne was baptized. After the baptism the family went to Mercedes parents house. Over the kitchen table, hangs a sign

Obey mommy and daddy

Don’t hurt yourself

Don’t hurt others

Because we are Maddox’s ......and Maddox’s are nice people.

That kind of sums up his legacy.

Visitation is scheduled for July 6,2018 at the Eternal Hills Funeral Home in Snellville, GA. from 6-8pm including a reception. A memorial service will be held at Saint Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church located at 5373 Wydella road, Lilburn, Georgia at 11:30 on July 7, 2018. All who knew GP are welcome to join the family at the reception on Friday night.