Arcol Milton Gwynn

Arcol M Gwynn Jr, born in Pittsburgh, PA October 21, 1936 to Arcol M Gwynn Sr and Juanita Beatrice Gwynn. He passed away peacefully just after Inauguration Day, January 21, 2021. Arky or Art to friends, grew up living in the house his dad built in Rennerdale PA. Arky was mentally brilliant per his high school yearbook. He attended the University of Pittsburgh, as a history major. He played the trumpet as a member of the varsity Pitt Marching Band. He also raced stock cars and collected HO model trains.As a young man Arky was a member of the Air National Guard; he joined the Air Force and was honorably discharged. He met and married Muriel in 1961, then obtained certification at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, PIA. In 1964, he was employed by United Airlines and moved to the Chicago suburbs with his family. He worked as an A&P mechanic, became an instructor and retired after 35 years. While in Schaumburg, he and Muriel raised a family of four children. They traveled extensively throughout their marriage. The family enjoyed many pets, music, laughter and learning. Arky had a wonderful tenor voice and sang in the men's choir at Our Redeemer's United Methodist Church. He played Auld Lang Syne every New Year's eve for the neighbors. He was amazingly mechanical: created HO model train landscapes, homemade 10-speed bikes, his own riding lawn mower, model airplanes and a three story dollhouse on wheels with tiny hinged doors and power to light the chandeliers. He had a classic red Volkswagen Beetle he held together with duct tape until he finally had to admit it was time to let it go. Every year he cultivated a large garden in the backyard. He grew rhubarb, green beans, tomatoes, corn, sunflowers and zucchini for many years but when interest waned, his green thumb enabled a tossing of wildflower seed to bloom ferociously and was awe inspiring.Arky & Muriel celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in Schaumburg, retired from the airlines and moved a final time to a new lovely home in North Georgia. It was close to family and felt like being back in the hills like Pennsylvania. Retirement was many hours keeping up socially with old friends from childhood and work. A few more years of travel including fun gambling in Cherokee North Carolina where his luck did not run out. Arky and Muriel were in the year of their 60th wedding anniversary when he was called on to go to heaven. He did not want to go and was resolute to live forever. He is survived by his wife, Muriel (nee Owens), four children: Joyce Reese (Bill) , Kathy Wittkopf (Jeff), Elaine Gwynn, Jon Gwynn (Michelle), grandchildren: Jarrid, Lauren, Kaitlyn and Amelia, sister, Nita Henke and many cousins across the US.In his memory, please donate to Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, Inc. https://angelsrescue.org/donatenow/