Crime & Safety

Former Chattahoochee Recreational Area Superintendent Passes Away

Patricia "Patty" McMullen Wissinger, 55, died on Friday after a battle with cancer.

By Kristal Dixon

The former superintendent of the Chattahoochee River National Recreational Area passed away last week. 

Patricia "Patty" McMullen Wissinger, 55, died on Friday, June 20 after a battle with cancer, according to Knoxville-based WVLT

She served as the superintendent of the Chattahoochee River National Recreational Area between January 2010 and September 2013 before heading to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to serve as deputy superintendent.

"She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her," the Chattahoochee River National Recreational Area wrote on its Facebook page. "She will be remembered as an inspiring leader and mentor in so many people’s lives."

Wissinger started her career in 1980 as a seasonal campground ranger on the Blue Ridge Parkway and moved up through the National Park Service ranks.

In addition to Chattahoochee River, she has served in management positions at the Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah National Park, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Wright Brothers National Memorial and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site.

According to her obituary, Wissinger received both bachelor's and master's degrees in public policy from Western Carolina University. 

She is survived by her husband, Gordon Wissinger; her three daughters, Catherine Zehel of Colorado, Julia Lockamy of Asheville, Lauren Lockamy of Ashville; her father, Carroll McMullen of Charlotte; her three grandchildren, Mark, Lillian and Jackson Zehel all of Colorado; and her five siblings, Mary Lou Lawson, Kathy Furr, Maureen Cameron, David McMullen and Debbie Leahy.

The family is requesting memorial contributions be made in Wissinger's honor to the Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy, the organization she founded to support Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, at 4861 Laurel Springs Drive, Roswell, GA 30075.


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