Bobbie Nathaniel Guthery

Bobbie Nathaniel Guthery, age 91, of Conway, South Carolina, passed away Thursday, May 18, 2023, at home with his family by his side.

Bobbie was born January 13, 1932, in Brawley, California to Gussie B. (Hall) Guthery and Carl H. Guthery, as the youngest brother to his older siblings Dean and Beverly.

Bobbie is survived by his wife of 61 years, Linda Guthery, and their two daughters: Kelly Wells of Texas and her children Tessa, Sam, and Isabella; and Kerry Terry of California, her husband Joe and their children Sarah, Olivia, and Jared.  Bobbie is also survived by nieces and nephews. He is remembered as a beloved son, brother, cousin, uncle, husband, father and grandfather.

Bobbie enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1950 and retired as a SMSGT in 1970.  During that time, he served under PACAF as well as SAC HQ at Offutt AFB, NB.  He was stationed all over the world at installations such as Germany, Japan, Canada, to name a few, as well as several bases in the U.S.  He retired his military service after two tours of duty in Vietnam.  He received many commendations and medals throughout his service.

After Bobbie’s military retirement, he enjoyed working sales in the California agriculture industry, and city water plant management and insurance sales in Oklahoma.

Bobbie was an avid bowler, enjoying the league he joined with his wife and many friends.  His favorite league was at Wagon Wheel Bowl in Oxnard, California. He was a member of several community groups like Kiwanis, Elks Lodge, VFW, and Woodman of the World, among others. He also participated in the PTA, Methodist Church, and served as a volunteer Sheriff’s Deputy in Maysville, OK.  He loved taking care of his horses, gardening, country and western music and dancing, playing card games and marbles with his family and good friends. 

Bobbie’s favorite food to eat was any kind of Mexican fare.  He made his own especially hot salsa, putting it on everything including his breakfast.  He also loved cooking out, ending with his famous homemade ice cream, made with his old-fashioned wooden, hand-cranked ice cream maker.  He enjoyed sharing these favorites and his time with his family and friends.

Bobbie loved to laugh, finding joy through other’s good jokes or his own.  He also played delightful pranks on family and friends over the years, to his own amusement and snorting laugh.

In recent years, Bobbie’s favorite past-time was pursuing family history and lineage through Ancestry. Collectively adding to the history his mother and brother were building, they traced the Guthery family line back to the 1700s.  He loved to cold-call recently discovered distant relatives to introduce himself and share family stories.

Bobbie loved his family first and foremost and loved to travel.  He often found creative ways to mix the two in order to share quality time with his loved ones.

Bobbie’s physical presence will be missed, though we’ll find joy in the many memories that we’ll recall and share.

Memorial Service to be held at a later date.  Please send your favorite photo(s) of/with Bobbie to be shared at his future memorial service and comment to be notified of the service. Send to: kerryterry5@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to your local VFW Post.

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