Donald A Guynn

Donald Arthur Guynn, 91, of Idaho Falls, former longtime resident of South Gate, California, passed away April 19, 2021. He died of natural causes at Parkwood Meadows Assisted Living Community with his wife Ellenor and daughter Deb at his side, and his three sons joined by video.

Don was born March 25, 1930 in Hollydale, California, to Arthur Lorenzo Guynn and Eva Pearl Adaline Nordberg. He spent his early years in South Gate and was educated in the Los Angeles area public schools, attending South Gate High School.  He was a top student and an outstanding guard on the league champion varsity basketball team; he also excelled on the track team in the hurdle races. He graduated from UCLA with a bachelors degree in physical education and  a teaching certificate. He  later graduated from Long Beach State College with a masters degree in physical education.

On June 25, 1951, Don married Ellenor Martha Schroedter in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In September 1952, he took his first teaching job at Barstow Junior High School in California, moving the next year to Carver Junior High School in South-Central Los Angeles. Don landed a position the following year at his alma mater, South Gate High School, where he was a teacher, coach and department chairman for the rest of his career. His subjects were: driver’s education, geometry and other math classes, health, and physical education. For many years Don coached basketball, track and cross country, including many winning teams and top athletes who set school records and won contests in the LA City and California state track meets. He was named Southeast Los Angeles Coach of the Year for basketball, and Outstanding Coach for the Los Angeles City Section of the CIF at the California State Track Meet in 1986. He retired from teaching in 1990, but he did not retire from his lifetime of health and fitness. For two decades, Don and Ellenor could be seen jogging or briskly walking every morning around Community Park, regardless of the weather.

Don was active in the Church all of his life and held many positions of leadership including Elders Quorum President, Counselor in two Bishoprics, member of the Stake High Council, High Priest Group Leader, Scoutmaster, and many teaching assignments. He and Ellenor were called to be Family History consultants for the Idaho Falls South Stake and later served a full-time mission in Innsbruck, Austria. They also served as temple workers in the Idaho Falls Temple. Don and Ellenor loved their service in all these callings and brought much happiness to many members and non-members of the Church who benefited from their service.  

Dad enjoyed taking his family on driving trips to many National and State Parks in the western United States; camping, hiking and exploring in all of these places. He also became an avid backpacker with each of his sons on the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Basin National Park. In 1967, Dad drove his family across the United States to visit relatives in Florida; then on to Washington DC, New York City, Expo 67 in Montreal, and many Church historical sights including Palmyra, Kirtland, and Nauvoo.

Survivors include his wife Ellenor; his daughter Deborah (Russell) Burt of Idaho Falls, ID; three sons, Steven (Jeannette) Guynn of Park City, UT; Randall (Robin) Guynn of New Canaan, CT; and John (Jessica) Guynn of Salt Lake City, UT; 22 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his sister and brother.

The family will visit with friends Sunday, May 2nd, 6-7 pm at Wood Funeral Home on Ridge Ave. Funeral services will be Monday, May 3, at 10 a.m. at the Cedar Ridge Ward in Idaho Falls (3195 South Holmes). Burial will be in Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

Funeral services will be broadcast live:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89371224074?pwd=MWdKSnVoZzRCR1hsSGJMVmlMR0hqUT09
 

Passcode: 275532