Claude “Gene” Guinn was born March 18, 1948, in Lyons, Kan., to Nathan “Junior” and Geneva Guinn. He died Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was 71.
Gene graduated from Hennessey High School in 1966 prior to attending Oklahoma State University. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1967-1971 and served one tour in Vietnam while earning the rank of sergeant. After serving in the Marines, Gene worked for Crandall and Sanders. Gene and his brother Sam opened G&G Construction in Hennessey in 1976. He retired from Cessna in 2009. Gene married Ruth Ann Vincent on Dec. 7, 1969. Two children were born from this union: Nathan and Trilla.
Gene is survived by his son Nathan Guinn and wife Stephanie and daughter Trilla Cranford and husband Dustin, all of Dover; grandchildren Britny, Makaly and Cooper Cranford and Erin Guinn; great-grandson Gunner Horne; sister Dolores Pankratz and husband Ron of Wichita, Kan.; sister-in-law Linda Guinn of Wichita; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Nathan “Sam” Guinn and grandson Donnie Guinn.
Funeral service is 10 a.m. Friday, March 6, at Dover Christian Church with Jimmy Berkenbile officiating.
Memorials in Gene’s name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS, 66675-8516 or the Donnie Guinn Memorial Scholarship at F&M Bank, 601 S. Main St., Kingfisher, OK, 73750.
