Doris I. Guinnup

Five days short of her 102nd birthday, Doris Irene Guinnup died on December 25, 2018 at the Newark Manor Nursing Home having suffered a stroke that evening. Doris was born on a farm in northeastern Indiana on December 30, 1916. She is the daughter of the late Byron J. Campbell, Sr. and Mary Gertrude (Evertts) Campbell. In 1935, Doris graduated from Hamilton High School, and a couple of years later moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana to attend a cosmetology beauty school. After graduating and obtaining a license, she and a girlfriend secured jobs in a department store beauty salon in Marion, Indiana. There she met and married Robert E. Guinnup in 1941. After WWII, Doris and Bob bought a small farmette just outside the city limits of Marion. They had a few beef cattle, several sheep, some chickens, fruit trees, walnut trees, a grape arbor, a huge garden, flowers, shade trees, and one 200-year plus oak tree. Doris served as the iconic suburban homemaker throughout the 1950’s, managing the house, gardening, helping care for animals, canning and freezing vegetables and fruit, cooking the meals, entertaining guests, and caring for their two children. In 1960, Doris and Bob were divorced. Subsequently, she moved the family to an area closer to her roots. Doris found a job in Butler, Indiana as an aide in a nursing home. The following Spring, Doris bought a house on Walnut Street in Butler where she established “Guinnup’s Beauty Shop.” She continued to work in a number of local nursing homes to supplement her income until her full retirement in the early 1980s. She was always proud that she was able to help assure that her two children graduated from college. For a period of time, she helped care for her daughter’s home and children. Following retirement, she pursued gardening and volunteer work both in the neighborhood and at a local nursing home. In 1993, Doris moved to Marrows Court Apartments in Newark, Delaware to be closer to her son and his family. She continued to correspond with friends and relatives, make new friends, entertain guests, and enjoy gardening (primarily flowers, but always a couple of tomato plants). She also frequently attended the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark with her son and his family. She volunteered at Hope Dining Room, and joined the Newark Senior Center. She was an avid reader using both the Newark Free Library and the Newark Senior Center book exchange. In August of 2015, Doris realized that she could longer live alone and independently. Doris was able to secure residence at Newark Manor where she lived until her recent death. There she continued to enjoy visitors and occasional outings with her children and grandchildren. The family thanks the staff of Newark Manor for its loving and diligent care of Doris. Doris is preceded in death by her parents and three siblings, Byron, Jr. Campbell and Hugh Campbell, and Evelyn Camp. Doris is survived by her son David (Diana) of Bear, DE and her daughter Sharon (Rick) Forlano of Sugar Land, TX; and, grandchildren Kelsey Guinnup of Philadelphia, PA, Maj. Geoffrey (Megan) Guinnup of Fort Bliss, TX, Christopher Guinnup of Baltimore, MD, and Brian Krontz, Jr. and Jill (Ryan) DeVido both of Missouri City, TX. Doris leaves behind four great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark (420 Willa Road, Newark, Delaware). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/) or Meals on Wheels at the Newark Senior Center (https://newarkseniorcenter.com/).

Doris I. Guinnup

December 30, 1916 - December 25, 2018