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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