William "Randy" Ransom McDaniel began his life in Heaven on Monday, January 1, 2024. His wife and children were by his side when he passed. He is survived by his wife Jane, sons William (Stacy) and Brent (Jenifer), daughter Megan (Ian), and his grandchildren John, William, Ava, and Charles.

Randy was born in Hopewell, Virginia to the late Doris and Bill McDaniel on July 18, 1949 and had three younger brothers: Cliff, Tim and Richard. Their childhood included family dogs, playing outside until dark, swimming in the local lake, and church on Sundays. Randy participated in Operation Mexico, a mission trip with the church that made a particularly powerful lifelong impact. Randy had several first jobs, including fast food and construction. All four brothers worked the local newspaper route on their bicycles, rain or shine. In school, Randy showed talent in track and field; he may have mentioned on occasion that he could high jump his own height.

Randy attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, or Virginia Tech, from 1968-1971 where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. More importantly, he was the guitarist of a successful band that played at fraternity gatherings and his dorm room, for which he was forced to formally apologize to the Dean to avoid suspension. He lived first in Lee Hall and then a duplex house on Maple Lane that not even his parents would set foot inside. Later in life, Randy would tell his children stories of "walking in the snow, uphill, both ways" that we are now suspicious were based on the snowy walk across the VaTech drill field.

After graduating, Randy took a job with Best Products in Richmond as the camera department manager. Soon after, he was offered the same management job at a new store, opening in Toledo, Ohio. Simultaneously in Toledo, Jane applied to the soon-to-open Best Products. She was hired in February and was quickly noticed by the handsome new camera department manager. In June, Jane went to Hawaii with a girlfriend, and Randy sent his priceless Canon camera with her, with one catch: she must return the film to him to develop. They were engaged by August and married by the following February, 1974.

Together, they moved to Richmond and then Atlanta, purchasing a home in Nantucket, a subdivision near the city of Atlanta. During these years, Randy founded a successful small electronics marketing firm, which he owned and operated for over a decade while raising his three children. He would bring home "samples" of telephones, handheld gaming systems, and other incredible small tech innovations that the children were able to test for their father. Randy traveled for work often, but still took his growing children on countless road trips, beach vacations, and "mystery trips" that would sometimes end at Disney World. He also coached rec league sports, worked neighborhood swim meets, hosted Good Shepherd church and Nantucket neighborhood events at the house, and still found time to build tree houses and grow gardens in the backyard.

After 40 happy years in the suburbs, Randy and Jane retired and moved to Lake Oconee. Randy often played cards with friends, boated around Lake Oconee, took sunset golf cart rides, and hosted his children and grandchildren as often as possible. He traveled to Zion National Park and Canada with his four brothers and spouses. Randy also frequented the beach with Jane, his children, and grandchildren.

After five happy years at Lake Oconee, Randy learned that he needed several vital medical procedures as soon as possible. He underwent a successful coronary bypass surgery in late November 2023, but suffered complications during his recovery that led to his death in the early morning hours of New Year's Day.

Please join the family for a celebration of Randy's life on January 27 at 12:00-4:00 at Lake Oconee Bistro. If you are able to join us, please dress comfortably and bring a story to share. If you cannot attend, Randy asks that you simply remember him the way you last saw him: a happy, blessed man who loves his friends and family deeply.