Lt. Colonel Lloyd Rice Gunn, Jr. (USA, Ret.)

Lloyd Rice Gunn, Jr., husband of Edith King Salvo Gunn, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on January 27th, 2023. Born in Charleston, South Carolina on November 9th, 1936, he was the eldest son of Lloyd Rice Gunn and Mary Louise Hynes Gunn.

Lloyd graduated from The Citadel in 1959 with a BA degree in Business Administration and was commissioned an infantry 2nd Lieutenant in the Regular Army. He and his beloved wife, Edith, were married in the Summerall Chapel at The Citadel and embarked together on an exciting life serving the country he so dearly loved. During his twenty-two year military career, he commanded three infantry companies and two battalions. He earned and proudly wore the coveted Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantry Badge and Expert Infantry Badge. His other awards included: Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, and Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Silver Star on two separate occasions. He graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Argentine Escuela Superior de Guerra and The U.S. National War College. He later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of South Carolina. Following retirement from active service and graduate school, he spent the next 14 years as Executive Vice President of WCI Management Group in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Edith and Lloyd decided to return to Charleston where he continued his commercial development and real estate career in 1998. 

Lloyd was an avid and competitive runner for decades. He ran eight marathons including the Boston Marathon twice. He was a charter member of the Waccamaw Rotary Club, life member of the Association of the United States Army, the US Army Ranger Association, the 16th Infantry Regiment Association, the Citadel Alumni Association, the Theta Commission of the Kappa Alpha Order and a proud member of the Washington Light Infantry as well as the Carolina Yacht Club. 

Lloyd is survived by his wife of 63 years, Edith; their only child, Stephanie Moore Gunn Lester; son-in-law John Chalmers Lester; grandchildren: John Travis Rhodes III, Edith Caroline Rhodes and Kai Everett Lester. He is also survived by his sister, Sally Ann Gunn Mullen; brother-in-law Jonas Whitley Mullen; brother, William Jennings Gunn II; sister-in-law Sharon DeHaro Gunn; brother-in-law, Stephen Keith Salvo; brother-in-law, Harry Lynwood Salvo; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. 

The family will receive friends Wednesday, February 1, 2023 in the J. Henry Stuhr Inc. Downtown Chapel  from 5:00-7:00 PM where the Rosary will be recited at 5:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, February 2, 2023 inThe Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, 120 Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina at 10:00 AM. Prayers of Final Commendation and Farewell with Full Military Honors will be held later in Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations are to be made to The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29409. Telephone 843-953-5297.