Joe Guinn (Ret. Colonel, US Army) Obituary

Joe Larry Guinn (Ret. Colonel, US Army), left this earthly home for his heavenly home in the early hours of August 12, 2024.  Born in Gilmer on August 16, 1937, a small town in East Texas, he worked afternoons in a grocery store to begin saving for college.  After graduating from Gilmer High School in 1955 he received a scholarship to Texas A&M, where he waited tables in the mess hall and received his BBA, Class of 1959.  He was tone deaf, but loved to march, and somehow convinced the Fightin’ TX Aggie Band Director to let him join.  His senior year, he was their Commander, leading from his silent bugle on the front rank, and backed up by the sound of the 75 trumpets marching behind him.  He always said that A&M grew him from a kid from deep East Texas into a man.  After serving in the Army for 2 years, he joined the Army Reserve and thought he wanted to be a business man.  He was called back during the Berlin Crisis and the Cuban Crisis, and he realized that he truly wanted nothing more than to serve in the Army Medical Corps, in the field of Hospital Administration and instructor.   

Because Ft. Sam Houston was headquarters for the Medical Corps and where most of the training took place, he was fortunate to be able to spend a great portion of his almost 30-year military career there.  It also meant that the Guinn family could settle in New Braunfels to raise their two children.  The family also had the good fortune of spending 3 years in Germany, in Stuttgart and Heidelberg.  He rose quickly in rank, retiring as a Colonel.

His time at BAMC was in the period when former President Lyndon Johnson spent a great deal of time on the top floor.  In 1973 the Vietnam POW’s were returned to the U.S., and it was his privilege to meet the plane of each one as they rehabilitated at BAMC.  He became close friends of many.

His time in Vietnam was spent at the military hospital in Long Binh, and it was determined after a 2016 diagnosis that the seeds of Parkinson’s Disease would be planted by Agent Orange there, which became the cause of death.

After a year at the Pentagon, he returned to Ft. Sam Houston and became instrumental in creating C-4, The Combat Casualty Care Course at Camp Bullis, training medics for setting up field hospitals, a tri-serve program for all medical personnel.  He traveled with a prestigious team of physicians all over the world, training & setting up field hospitals in crisis zones.

His awards & medals included: Defense Superior Service; Bronze Star; Legion of Merit; Defense Meritorious Service; Army Meritorious Service; Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry; Order of Military Medical Merit; Command & General Staff College.

After retiring from the military, he became military liaison and lobbyist for Pacificare, which later became United Healthcare.  He loved walking the halls of Congress and became friends with many legislators thru the years. His   Bible Study Leader (when he was in D.C. on Sunday) was President Jimmy Carter.

He dearly loved New Braunfels, where he actively participated in community events: He served on several Boards: New Braunfels Christian Ministries; New Braunfels Volunteers in Medicine; Hope Hospice; Living Hope Mission (Haiti); Texas Association of Business; New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce; San Antonio Chamber of Commerce; San Antonio Sports Foundation; TX Assn. of Health Plans; TX Legislative Conference; Baptist Children’s Home; NBHS Sports Booster Club (pres.); NBHS PTA (pres.); NBHS Monoceras Booster Club (pres.); Blue Dolphins Swim Team (pres.).  Other awards included Chairman of the Board Award (NB Chamber); Presidential Leadership Award (Nat’l Assn. of Emergency Medical Technicians); Executive of the Year Award (Professional Secretaries Int’l); Silver Unicorn (NBHS).  He received his MBA from Southwest Texas State University.

Always foremost in his life was his deep faith, and he taught Bible Classes for all ages thru the years.  He loved Oakwood Church, where he served as a deacon and teacher, co-founding The Guinn/Brummett Bible Study Class, which continues now as Thee Rock Class. His dedication & commitment to his faith and his church was strong to his last breath.  His life Bible verse was 1 John 3:17&18, which best described his life. He was bigger than life with a heart that matched.

He deeply loved his family, who loved him and knew he would always be there for them, often flying back thru the night to attend his children’s activities.

While living in Germany, the family traveled almost every weekend all over Europe, and that love of travel never stopped.  Family trips, beach trips, were joyous, and after retirement Nina and Joe continued to travel extensively.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Nina Jane Cole Guinn, his adored children & family, Melissa Ruth Gleason (Matthew) and Buck Cole Guinn (Tracie); his grandchildren Cole Douglas Gleason (Justine), Casey Joseph Gleason (Amy), Tyler Buck Guinn (Natalie), & Sara Elizabeth Quent (Cody); his great-grandchildren Spencer & Jones Guinn and Josie Quent.

His parents Martha Ferrell and Jack Guinn and sister Wynell Brown preceded him in death.   

Services and full military honors will be held at Oakwood Church in New Braunfels on Monday, August 26, at 11:00 AM, with private burial following.  Memorials may be made to Oakwood Church Building Fund or Hope Hospice. Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home is handling funeral arrangements.