Gary Greg Guinn

Gary Greg Guinn (The Guinn Meister) passed at his home in Budapest, Hungary on February 7, 2019. He was 56 years old. Gary was born in Ruston, Louisiana on May 17, 1962. His parents are Gregory Glenn Guinn and Vericia Tee Guidry Maedgen. Gary enlisted in the USAF in Houston, Texas at 17 years of age. He served at England AFB Louisiana for a short time before being assigned to duty in Western Germany during the summer of 1981. This was a dream come true for Gary who had already developed a strong interest in WW II history. Gary became an avid collector of WW II memorabilia for 30 plus years and was recognized by his peers as an expert on specific items. He toured many of the battle sites in Europe and was deeply interested in the history of the continent. He even traveled to Carthage in Tunisia and visited a battle site there. Gary served for 12 years in Germany at several different air bases. In August 1990 Gary deployed to Qatar and served in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. In Qatar his unit received multiple awards. During Gary’s time of service he received the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service. During Gary’s early years of service in Germany he met and married Elke Marill. Together they had Cynthia Marie Guinn Vendantam in 1988. It was during this time that Gary with the help of Elke and her family learned to read and write the German language. In 1992 Gary and Elke divorced and Gary left the USAF after 12 years of service. Gary elected to stay on in Germany. At the end of the Cold War Gary joined Crawford THG and became the on site representative in Central Europe working with ERC Frankona, a reinsurer based in Munich. He traveled Central and Eastern Europe for Crawford representing them in claims adjustment for multiple natural disasters and fires. His travels took him to Prague, Georgia, Moscow, and Poland. During his travels in Eastern Europe he met Judit Vig in Budapest, Hungary. Gary and Judit married in Budapest in 2000 and they lived in Prague and Budapest. Their daughter Constance Viktoria (Connie) was born in Budapest, where Gary was the International Loss Adjuster for Crawford and company until their closure after 911. He began teaching English to Hungarian business associates. This helped him to learn Hungarian, which he said was the most difficult language he ever attempted to learn. He was currently employed with Generali Insurance Group at their office in Budapest where he was Fronting Manager. Gary was in constant contact with Generali offices through out Europe and Asia. He leaves a wife, Judit Guinn, daughters Cynthia Marie Guinn Vedantam and her husband Srinath of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Constance Victoria Guinn of Budapest. His parents Gregory Glenn Guinn and Barbara of Conroe, Texas and his mother Vericia Tee Guinn Maedgen and C.A. Maedgen of San Angelo. A sister Colleen Guinn Collins and her husband Blaine Collins of Pleasant Hill, California. Nephew Jeremy Alan Collins. Uncles; Mack and Betty Guinn of Cedar Park, Texas, Rodney Guidry and wife Haruko of Pineville, Louisiana, Howard Guidry and wife Dorothy of Tickfaw, La. He was preceded in death by his uncle Andrew Guidry of Ocean Springs, Mississippi and is survived by his aunt Paula Sue. Aunts; Margaret Allen and husband Ken Allen of Spring Branch, Texas, Jerry Ann Covan of Huntsville, Alabama and Liz Reeves of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Cousins: Carma Guidry, Emma Pond, Emme Stansbury, Chantel Guidry, Laurie Troyani, and Chad Reeves.