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C.S. Lewis in “The Weight of Glory,” wrote “There are no ordinary people.”
Most ordinary people live a quiet life. They are behind-the-scenes people busy doing things to make life better for those around them. They don’t do things for the praise, but for the satisfaction of helping a neighbor or friend.
And, that was the story of Darrell Guinn, who died March 1, while doing an odd job for a friend on Ripshin Mountain.
Darrell, 73, enjoyed doing things for others. “He was selfless. He helped everyone in the community. He enjoyed his family and friends and doing things for them,” said his wife, Judy, who had been at his side for 53 years.
The couple married while Darrell was serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. After his military service, they moved to the Valley Forge Community, and that is where they made their home and raised their daughter, Amy Whitson.
Darrell worked at North American Rayon until it closed, and then worked as a heating and air man, retiring from Climate Controllers Heating & Air. 
“When it came to handyman jobs, there was not much he could not do. He was a perfectionist. Yard work was his specialty. He loved to get on that mower and go,” shared Judy.
“Darrell was a quiet person, but he was a very loving and giving person. If he could have, he would have pulled the moon from the sky and give it to me,” Judy said.
Darrell was not much for watching television or reading, nor did he like to hunt or fish. “His go-to-me thing was cars. He had a 1951 red Ford which he adored and he had a ’65 Mustang, which he had rebuilt. He loved old cars and tinkering with them,” said Judy.
When he wasn’t doing a handyman job or yard work, he enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles.
Darrell and Judy are parents of a daughter, Amy, and grandparents to Reiley Grace and Emilee Reese Whitson. “He adored those girls, and every day he or I one called them. We often picked them up from school and kept them when there was no school. They were a big part of his life,” said Judy.
Judy recalled that her mother lived with her and Darrell the last seven years of her life. “He was so good to her and would often cook lunch for her when I worked. They had some good times together,” Judy shared.
Darrell never complained, and was happiest when he was doing something for a friend or neighbor. He never did no big jobs or made the headlines, but neighbors will tell you that he was the best. One neighbor wrote on his tribute page: “He was always there when you needed him and never questioned anything you asked him to help you with. We have lost a wonderful friend and comrade.”
Darrell attended First Free Will Baptist Church and enjoyed worshiping there.
Perhaps, being a friend was Darrell Guinn’s calling in life, and that’s what made him a little different from others. To those who knew him, he was no “ordinary” person. He was exceptional and will be missed.