Marvin D. Gunnells

Marvin D. Gunnells passed away quietly while in Hospice Care on Tuesday afternoon, June 22, 2021, at the age of 79. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 1, 2021, at Virginia Wingard Memorial United Methodist Church. Visitation with the family will immediately follow the service. Marvin was born in Rocky Mount, NC on September 19, 1941, the youngest of the three sons of R.L. and Juanita Rogers Gunnells. He spent his childhood growing up in Florence, SC. After the family moved to Florida during his last years of high school, he graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, FL, and continued his education at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL where he earned a double major in Business and Sociology. He married Christine (Leitner) Gunnells of Winnsboro on July 8, 1967, and together they lovingly raised two children. Marvin was a member of Virginia Wingard Memorial United Methodist Church. He was a retired employee of the SC Dept. of Corrections, and he was a lifetime member of the National Education Association and the SC Education Association. Marvin is survived by his wife, son, Brian (Allison) Gunnells of Winnsboro; daughter, Meg (Buck) Balentine of Chapin; and grandsons, Bryson Balentine and Aiden Balentine. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Reuben D. (Carole) Gunnells of Columbia, and William R. (Betty) Gunnells of Hartsville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Virginia Wingard Memorial United Methodist Church. The family would like to thank the staff at Lexington Medical Center and Agape Hospice House of Columbia for their care during his illness.