A few years back I spoke with a Bethelite who was readying to leave Bethel along with his wife. He had been at Bethel for decades and was rather high up the ladder.
As he and I talked I recalled him as a teenager and young adult and spoke about his many academic and personal accomplishments, and a specific award he had earned when he was 17 years old. He replied saying, "That was the last productive thing I have done with my life so far."
This man left Bethel for "family reasons". He came home with high recommendations from Bethel. He and his wife opted to pioneer for two years afterward. He would never accept appointment as an elder, though several attempts were made. Then he did the fade.
His wife was and remains very distraught over this. But I know this man. He has brains, and everything was finally sinking in for him. His wife will probably never wake up to what's going on inside Watchtower. But he has, and it's really taken a toll on him, which is not surprising news around here.