Obituary for John Robert “Bob” Gunther
LEXINGTON: God allows us to make plans, but over all his plans, Bob Gunther wrote “subject to change without notice by God.” Bob considered those interruptions as ordained moments. As much as Bob liked to have his ducks-in-a-row, he liked to follow the Lord more – and he did so with thanksgiving. Bob had an ordained moment when the Lord called Bob to himself Friday, July 26, 2024. He was 80.
Born August 13, 1943 in Exeter, New Hampshire, to parents Martin Edward and Katherine (Joss) Gunther, he graduated from Winnacunet High School in 1961. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Syracuse University in 1965, and later that year married Peggy Lee Allen.
Bob was dismissed from his draft status to serve in the Vietnam War as he listened to the leading of the Lord which led them to the mission field – in Vietnam! In 1967, He and Peggy started a servicemen center in Saigon with the Christian & Missionary Alliance as a ministry to the American and Allied soldiers – serving about 800 servicemen each month.
After four years in Vietnam, Saigon fell, and Bob returned to The States. He worked as an electrical engineer in quality control at United Technologies in Lexington, OH. Following a three-year furlough, they returned to Southeast Asia, where he managed the Alliance Guest House in Bangkok, Thailand, taught at Bangkok Bible College, and served as pastor to a small group of tech-minded students at Asian Institute of Technology.
In 1980 they moved to Kentucky, where Bob entered seminary – with the intent to be more qualified to be a chaplain to international students. He earned his Master of Arts and Religion from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1984, and worked over 14 years at Asbury College as a broadcast engineer.
Moving to Ohio in 1998, he partnered with his brother-in-law, Tim Hahn, flipping houses. Eventually, Bob attended University of Toledo to gain a teaching certification. He filled many roles with Madison Comprehensive High School, where he finally retired, but not really.
Described as selfless and full of energy, Bob was “Mr. Fix-It”. Work was his hobby. His genuine satisfaction came from helping others – practically. He served the board of the HOA at McIntosh Reserve Condominiums, where he lived. He truly liked to be in charge of every project. His work adage was, “Do your best and let God take care of the rest.”
Remembered as one who was not afraid to teach Revelations, Bob had a keen sense of humor, brimming with puns, one-liners, and long “play on words” jokes. He’d say his favorite scripture was I Chronicles 26:18 (look it up and remember his sense of humor), but it was clear he lived his life by the verse James 1:27, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Bob didn’t need to tell you his religion – he lived it.
He is survived by his wife Peggy (Allen) Gunther, whom he married June 26, 1965; their children Madonna Katherine Gordon of Norwich, VT, Michelle Lynne Beard of Lexington, KY, John Edward (Sharalee) Gunther of Lexington, OH, and David Allen Gunther of Spring Hill, TN; grandchildren; Gil Gordon, Gunnar Gordon, John Paul Beard, Weston Gunther, Chandler (Rebekah) Gunther, Everett Gunther, Johnny Gunther, Grace Gunther, Caden Gunther, Emma Gunther, and Ethan Gunther; a brother Richard Martin Gunther of Reston, VA; along with numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister Donna Kaye Dudley of Chicago.
The Gunther family will hold a memorial service August 17, 2024 at 3pm at Mansfield Alliance Church, formerly known as 1st Alliance. The Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home is serving the Gunther family. Contributions in his memory may be made to Evangelism Resources: www.erinfo.org/donate
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Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Home Lexington Avenue Chapel
Website: SnyderFuneralHomes.com