Robert Hoyt Gunn

Robert H. Gunn, Sr. of Warr Acres, OK, left his bonds of clay at 72 years, 364 days, and 23 hours while in the company of his family after a prolonged illness. Robert had many nicknames throughout his life - Dutch, Bob, Bobby, Big Bob, Rob - but was known to all as a quiet, kind man devoted to his family and friends. He was never too busy to help a stranger and volunteered in his community and church. He was born in Sullivan, MO, the third of nine siblings to Winifred A (Winnie Moody) Gunn and Willian Henry (Budge) Gunn on 5 January 1950, missing the title of "New Years' baby" by only a few hours, according to his mother. Robert grew up in Cuba, Missouri. As an adult he worked in the automotive industry, primarily in St Louis, MO but also in Belvidere, IL, until shortly before his retirement, when he moved to Oklahoma City, OK.He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Lillian "Ding" McCann, and brothers-in-law, Randy Gibbs and Robert Fleming. Robert is survived by his wife, Sheila, to whom he was joined in marriage on March 3, 2003, bringing into their marriage three adult children and, at that time, five granddaughters. Sons, Robert Gunn, Jr. and wife Chris, John Gunn and wife Tasha, and daughter, Janet Gunn; granddaughters Ashley Gunn and Thomas Brim, Shayla Gunn and Brad Delfeld, Kayla Gunn and Brice Sanders, Emily Gunn, Lydia Gunn, Morgan Gunn and Marilyn Gunn, one great granddaughter, Charlotte Brim and grandson, Andrew Foust, survive him. Surviving siblings and their spouses include, Bill and Linda Gunn, brother-in-law, Buddy Hoyt McCann, Margaret and Glenn Rousset, Raymond Gunn and Lynn, Mary Gunn, Chris and Gary Durbin, Cathi and Rich Goyette, and Winnie Gunn. Numerous nieces and nephews recall their "Uncle Bobby" fondly. Lifelong friends David Bartley, Ron Greenwalt, and Phil Logan remained in touch and supported him until his death. While having retired from Chrysler, Robert worked at various jobs from childhood to earn money for his own needs. He recalled working with Budge until his father retired as a great joy, starting at age 3, moving stones when graves were opened, until he dug one solo at age 13 in a small rural Missouri cemetery. Like many of his siblings he was an excellent athlete, until a broken ankle ended his adult softball career, causing him to choose work security over future injury. He exercised throughout his adult life, and enjoyed playing pool, gardening, push mowing and yardwork, fishing (especially with family) and watching celestial objects - finding obscure planets, moons and comets - much to the delight of family and friends. Robert did not start traveling far from home until his early 30s and made it a priority to visit the American southwest and National Parks, targeting many locations where old Western movies were filmed, and driving to many towns and locations mentioned in the old TV serial westerns. Enduring many wants that accompany a large family, Robert always was a hard worker, but also volunteered in helping neighbors. He, with his wife, set up a shoe and clothing fund at a local grade school. Teachers would contact him to bring gift cards to purchase needed socks, shoes, and winter coats when a need was identified. He helped in the church nursery, in the church kitchen, with vacation bible school, and did weekly Sunday clean up after church services; he served in homeless shelters; and he was chauffeur to his granddaughters while they lived in Oklahoma City. Although he labeled himself Sheila's "sou chef", he taught her how to make chicken and noodles. He recalled his mother's thanksgiving meal as the best in the world- doing dishes standing at the sink in his mother's kitchen- until his sisters "grew up and could take over", exempting him from kitchen help for many years. After his release from kitchen chores, Robert could be found outside with his father doing all sorts of odd jobs and playing with his siblings and the neighborhood children. In the years before "dyslexia" was commonly known, which impacted his reading but not his memorization, he had a gift for math and numbers, and ability to recall endless trivia. Upon using his brother Bill's newly issued boot camp corrective vision glasses, he found "the trees all have leaves". In leu of flowers, the family asks consideration for donations to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Frontotemporal Dementia association or Alzheimer's association.