More detail on this person: LTC Maurice Gwinner, (US Army Ret.) died July 27, 2015. Born in
Daytona Beach in 1930, he was the son of LTC Harold Henry and Mary Groover Gwinner (deceased). He
attended the University of Mississippi and finished school at the University of Texas, Austin, where
he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity and the ROTC. Following in the the footsteps of his
father, he served 20 years in the Army, and fought in the Korean and Viet Nam conflicts. He flew
airplanes and helicopters, achieving Master Aviator status. He ended his career as an aircraft
maintenance staff officer. Throughout his service, he was awarded a number of military honors and
awards, including the Bronze Star and the Air Medal with three oakleaf clusters. He was a charter
member of the Army Aviation Assn. of America (Quad A), and was a founding sponsor of the National
Museum of the US Army. He also was a member of MOAA and the Military Order of World Wars.
Singing was one of Maurice's greatest joys. He sang in barbershop quartets and choruses for more
than 45 years, and was a member of choruses in Savannah, Macon and Roswell. He sang tenor with
the award-winning Tybee Lighthouse quartet, and lead with Savannah Sound. In 1981, he was tapped for
the high honor of membership in the Barbershop Confederate Harmony Brigade, and was selected for
the international honorary group called AHSOW (The Ancient Harmonious Society of Woodshedders).
He also sang in musical stage productions and in church choirs. Among other volunteer efforts, he
and wife, Gay, led sing-a-longs for groups at Carlyle Place Retirement Community in Macon, where
they have lived since 2003. Maurice was a member of Vineville United Methodist Church in Macon, and
was associate member of Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church in Savannah. After retirement, he
enjoyed working as a docent at the Ships of the Sea Museum in Savannah. Upon moving to Macon, he
became a strong supporter of philanthropic, performing arts, and history organizations, and the
Tubman and Arts & Science museums. Maurice was a member of NARFE, the Ga. Military/Federal
Retiree Coalition and, as a proud descendant of the original Salzburgers who helped settle Savannah,
he was a member of the Ga. Salzburger Society. He was a former Boy Scout leader and was inducted
into the Order of the Arrow. He took great pride in the fact that his two sons and two grandsons are
Eagle Scouts. He delighted in his friends and family and pets, and he was well known for giving hugs
and being the first to say, Let me know how I can help ... He volunteered for several alzheimer's
and memory research projects with Mercer and Emory Universities, hoping that his participation might
bring more understanding and potential cures for such problems. For 37 years Maurice was married to
the former Mary Margaret Beatty, who predeceased him. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, the
former Gay Piper Orr. Also surviving are: sons, Ned Gwinner (Melissa) Kauii, Hawaii, and Ken Gwinner
(Jean Savitsky) Atlanta and New York City; daughter, Nan Gwinner (Evelyn Harris) La Crescenta,
California; sister, Marilyn Damian (Jim) San Diego, California, nephew Brent Phillips (Jennifer)
Acworth; and Stepdaughter Rachael Takei (Ken) Atlanta. He was 'Poppi' to his beloved grandchildren:
Amy McKinney (SFC Tim) Parkstein, Germany; Chris, Antigua, Guatemala; Ben, Savannah; Rosie,
Macon; and Piper Takei, Atlanta. His great-grandsons are Nick and Tanner McKinney. The family is
deeply grateful for the friendship and caregiving of Shirley Jones, Patricia Lockett, Dora Hughes
and Dr. Jack Menendez. And to his son, Ken Gwinner, for his unyielding dedication to Maurice's
recovery. Visitation will be held Saturday, August 1 from 1-2pm at Hart's Mortuary at the Cupola on
Peake Road. Funeral services to follow at 2pm. A private burial will follow the funeral at Riverside
Cemetery. A celebration of life party will be held at Carlyle Place on Zebulon Road Wednesday,
August 5, from 5:00-7:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Employee Gift Fund,
Carlyle Place, 5300 Zebulon Road, Macon, GA 31210.; Vineville United Methodist Church, 2025
Vineville Avenue, Macon, GA 31204; or charity of choice . Register online at www.hartsmort.com.
Hart's Mortuary at the Cupola Savannah Morning News July 29, 2015 Please sign our Obituary Guest
Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries.
Published in Savannah Morning News on July 29, 2015
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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