Mrs. Guynes went to be with the Lord Friday, April 23, 2011 at 8:30 p.m. in Mombasa, Kenya and was buried in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 1, 2011
Biography
Mrs. Guynes was born on February 7, 1928 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. She enrolled at SAGU in the fall of 1946 despite opposition and limited financial resources. She was introduced to Delmer Guynes in the summer of 1948, and they married Easter morning April 17, 1949.
Their opportunity to work in China was hindered in 1949 when it became a closed country. But, they received an opportunity to pastor a church in Caldwell, TX, in 1952. Approximately two years later, they were approved missionaries to Malaysia (Malaya at the time). By the end of 1954, they pastored the only structured Assemblies of God church in Malaysia.
The Guynes started the construction of the Bible Institute of Malaysia in 1958. In 1965 they returned to Dallas, where Eleanor received a master’s degree in elementary education at Southern Methodist University. While Dr. Guynes pastored at University Assembly of God Church of Waxahachie and served as SAGU’s Academic Dean, Eleanor taught in the Midlothian school system.
In 1968, they moved to Springfield, MO, where she was a faculty member at Central Bible College (CBC) for 12 years. During this time, she earned a second master’s degree in Cross Cultural Communication at the Assembles of God Theological Seminary.
SAGU History Professor and CBC Alumnus Gary McElhany recalls, “My earliest memories of CBC include Eleanor Guynes. Her love for people and commitment to missions made a lasting imprint. As a pastor, the annual missions conventions always included something gleaned from her missions class. In fact, the class project became the foundation for several of my missions sermons. Her class influenced me more than any single course in my ministerial preparation.”
Upon resignation from CBC, China opened and they established the Assemblies of God Office in Hong Kong. Over the next 10 years, they developed Operation Sunrise, the international prayer program for China, and Sunrise Educational Foundation, the teacher placement program for Chinese universities.
In 1982 they returned to Texas where they were heavily involved at SAGU. Dr. Guynes served as the university’s president, and Mrs. Guynes taught full-time until her retirement in 1995. She played a vital role in re-establishing the university’s missions emphasis.
Mrs. Guynes is survived by her husband, Delmer Guynes; her 4 children: Beckie Smith and her husband David, Patricia Brooks and her husband Paul, Del Guynes and his wife Christi, and Janette Triplett and her husband Marc; her grandchildren: Kevin and his wife Miriam, Kent and his wife Michelle, Kimbra and her husband Nick, Krista, Bryan and his wife Susan, Clayton and his wife Andrea, Derek and his wife Lacy, Lindsay, Lauren, Devan, Joshua, Jessica, and Jennifer; and her great-grandchildren: Katie, Kaleb, Micah, Wes, Cory, Tia, Lexxi, Ethan, Ellie, Evan, Ava, Aaron, and Connor.
Mrs. Guynes went to be with the Lord Friday, April 23, 2011 at 8:30 p.m. in Mombasa, Kenya and was buried in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 1, 2011.
Memories of Mrs. Guynes
“Regardless of any worldly pressures of fear and concern, her commitment to fulfill the mission of God is a testimony to the very nature of Jesus Christ at work within her, and is an enduring testimony to me and my family.”
– Bryan Brooks
“I remember learning so much from the powerful servant of God! Our mission trip to KL, Malaysia would not have been the same…”
– Alfonso Llamas
“I will always hold this fine lady in high esteem. Such a genuine person who made such a difference in the lives of many without bringing attention to herself.”
– Reggie McElhannon
Eleanor Guynes Gallery
