Colonel Donald Timothy “Tim” Wynn (Retired), Company E-2, Class of 1971, passed peacefully to the Lord on December 13, 2020 at the University of Washington Medical Center, after a long battle with cancer. He had been a resident of Bellingham, WA for almost 20 years, following his extraordinary 30-year career in the Army Corps of Engineers.
Tim was born into an Air Force family on October 12, 1948 in Akron, OH, the son of Donald Dewey and Mary Eleanor (Williamson) Wynn. An outstanding high school scholar, Tim came to West Point set on obtaining a first-rate education in physics. However, O.P.E had different ideas. Like plebe boxing.
Tim would not, however, be deterred. He fought hard. He never backed down. And he bled. Fortunately for Tim, back then O.P.E gave extra points for bleeding. There was even a story that, given his very fair complexion, Tim showed up for boxing one day already bleeding. More extra points! So, Tim prevailed. Like he would in everything else he put his mind to.
Later in plebe year, Tim again showed his fighting spirit, and daring, as he was driving up to the fourth floor of the old 4th Division. A particularly unkempt firstie routinely needled Tim, letting fly with a loud “Quack, Quack!” every time Tim passed by. But this evening Tim fired back, “Oink, Oink!” Tim was hazed unmercifully during the break before taps, but surprisingly, not so much after that. In fact, many of the upperclassmen thought it was hilarious, and gutsy, perhaps because the “Oink, Oink!” was so spot on. His classmates all thought the better of him for it, and they’ve been telling the story at every class reunion for 50 years now.
Tim really shined, however, in Bartlett Hall, taking the most difficult science and engineering courses while still getting terrific grades. More important, at least for his academically challenged classmates, Tim was a generous and patient academic coach. At least three of his E-2 classmates made it through Nuke, EE, and Thermo thanks to Tim’s extraordinary efforts.
Tim loaded up on tough electives firstie year. Most of the courses involved labs which generated voluminous printouts and technical reports that Tim kept in his room so he could prep for class at night. But the TAC was not impressed and repeatedly “nuked” Tim for “Room Unprepared for Inspection.” As a result, Tim spent many weekends firstie year studying in confinement instead of at Snuffy’s—which, in the long run, would prove the Army’s gain.
During his military career, Tim was assigned to six different Corps of Engineer Districts. But like all true soldiers, he began with hard time in the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, TX and 2nd ID in Korea. Tim then took a well-deserved break, earning an M.S. in applied science from the University of California at Davis before returning to West Point in the Physics Department.
After a quick trip to CGSC, Tim spent the next 10 years travelling the world as deputy commander of the Riyadh District, Saudi Araba, XO of the 11th Engineer Battalion at Fort Belvoir, VA (where he acquired his Professional Engineer license from the state of Virginia), DCSENG for JTF Bravo in Honduras, deputy commander of the Seattle District, and commander of the Honolulu District. In 1991 Tim celebrated his 20th year in the Army by returning to Korea as the facility engineer, Camp Casey, and the 2nd ID.
After attending the Naval War College, Tim assumed command of the Seattle District, which won the Army Installation Support Program of the Year Award and the Air Force Mobility Command Installation Support District of the Year Award. Tim also received the Wheeler Medal from the Society of American Military Engineers, complementing his many military awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal.
Tim concluded his 30-year Army career as commander of the Transatlantic Programs Center, which directed engineer and construction programs supporting U.S. forces operating in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the former Soviet Union.
Upon his retirement from the Army, Tim decided to keep doing what he loved and became the director of facilities management at Western Washington University. Over the next 10 years, he managed multiple projects, including construction of the Academic Instructional Center.
Upon his second retirement, Tim became an avid woodworker, except when he and his wife, Jane, were travelling the world. Jane planned the trips, and Tim would just ask, “What should I wear?” Every itinerary brought new adventures, especially a pilgrimage to the tomb of West Point’s first engineer, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, in Poland. Tim even visited Hobbiton in New Zealand—from the viewpoint of engineering practices in the Shire. He also loved to tell of the “death marches” Jane took him on: Machu Picchu Mountain, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (New Zealand), and the Romsdalseggen (Norway).
Tim was a beloved husband, father, brother, friend, classmate, and engineer who literally shaped the world for the better. Finally, and perhaps most important, Tim was a devoted and longtime member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, which explains why he was a Christian leader who shaped lives by quiet example.
Tim is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Jane Kirstine (Holmquist) Wynn; two daughters, Ane Kirstine (Sr. Cecilia Maria) Wynn and Anemarie Whitney Wynn; his sister, Marcia Rice, and brother, Tom Wynn, and their spouses and children. Tim was buried in the West Point Cemetery, 50 years after graduation, with his wife, daughters, family members, and classmates in attendance to honor and remember him.