Popcorn, harness racing and the county fair: Remembering Doug Guinsler

ZANESVILLE − Doug Guinsler is being remembered for his love of fairs, especially the Muskingum County Fair . He died on Oct. 3 at the age of 72.

Guinsler was a 1970 graduate of Zanesville High School and grew up next to the Muskingum County Fairgrounds. From there, his love of the fair bloomed. He spent most of his life around the fair, whether as a groundskeeper or a member of the fair board. He served on the fair board for almost 50 years, 35 as the secretary.

"Doug certainly was a staple here at the fair," expressed Gail Deitrick, president of the board. "He will be greatly missed. That is for sure. He grew up here, very near the fairgrounds as well, and loved to tell stories about when he was a child and how he would come help all the groundskeepers."

In 1980, he and his wife Beverly opened Carousel Concessions, where Guinsler started another one of his favorite hobbies − going to fairs across Ohio and running his popcorn trailer.

Throughout his life, Guinsler devoted time to numerous groups and organizations, including the Ohio Farm Bureau, Muskingum County Republican Club, Zanesville Charity Newsies, and the National Independent Concessionaires Association.

Among his many other hobbies, Guinsler loved the Boston Celtics, Ohio State Buckeyes, history, and harness racing.

"He really liked horse races," shared Derek Watiker, another fair board member. "He was always a great guy, always easy to talk to."

"I'm hoping next year that we can just make him proud and make sure the races go smooth, just like he would do it if he was here," he added.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, of which he was proud to be a member. Burial will follow in St. Paul's Cemetery.

A celebration of life will be held Nov. 3 in the Veterans Building at the Muskingum County Fairgrounds.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Popcorn, harness racing and the county fair: Remembering Doug Guinsler