Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

December 23, 2025

CHARLOTTE – Gunars Ejups, 95, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2025.  Gunars was born on March 8, 1930, in Riga, Latvia to the late Anna and Oto Ejups.  He and his family immigrated to the United States in 1950 and became naturalized citizens after fleeing the Soviet occupation of Latvia.

Gunars is survived by his wife of the last 10 years, Vickie; five children Sandra Zentz (Larry), Gunars M. (Baiba), Raimonds (Laila), Imants (Liga), Ilga Pruzinskis (Juris - predeceased), nine grandchildren Ina, Erik, Lara, Amanda, Paul, Marisa, Evija, Nils and Sarma; five great grandchildren Silvija, Otto, Tomas, Lukas, Elliot and Leo, brother Aldis and family and numerous cousins in Latvia.

Gunars was a career architect earning his degree from Michigan State University in Building Construction and Management, becoming a licensed Architect and Emeritus member of the American Institute of Architects.  Of the numerous projects he managed some were the airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Federal Reserve bank in Minneapolis, the library in Corning New York, the expansion of the Charlotte Federal Reserve Bank and Douglas International Airport to name a few.  After retiring from Odell and Associates as the Director of Quality Assurance, he continued in his profession as an Architecture Consultant focusing on design document quality assurance.

Outside of work Gunars had many interests and passions.  He was involved in athletics his whole life from basketball and volleyball in the very early years to fencing for Michigan State University and on to competitive marksmanship, tennis, snow and water skiing and auto racing.

Gunars also had a passion for the arts, in particular music and dance.  He was an accomplished violinist early in life and was able to play most any string or keyboard instrument.  However, his greatest passion was for dance.  Gunars taught and competed across several styles of ballroom dancing, eventually earning certification as a judge for ballroom dance competitions.

A celebration of life will take place in the spring of 2026.  Further details will be forthcoming.

May Gunars rest in peace and forever remain in our hearts.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral and Cremation Services, 1321 Berkley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704)641-7606.  Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.