Obituaries

Robert Guffee

Robert Eugene "Bob" Guffee, beloved father, grandfather, husband, brother, uncle, and friend passed away surrounded by his children on September 12, 2021. He was 81.

Bob was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 20, 1939, to parents James Fred and Gladys Lenora Chamlee Guffee. "Bobby", as family and friends lovingly called him, enjoyed growing up in Sweetwater, Tennessee. He fondly recalled as a child spending time on his grandparents, James and Nora Guffee's farm, helping with the animals, gardening, and playing with his sister and cousins. He told stories of gathering eggs and tending to the chickens, cows, and horses with his Grandpa Guffee. Bob would be involved in the Boy Scouts of America often using the caves of Craighead Caverns, now part of The Lost Sea, to explore. As a teen, he was a football standout for the Sweetwater High School Wildcats. Bob would eventually play football for both Middle Tennessee State and Austin Peay State Universities.

Bob proudly joined the U.S. Marine Corps, did basic training at Parris Island, SC, and served for four years at the Naval Station in Rota, Spain. Among other duties, he worked on projects with British engineers and the military at the Rock of Gibraltar and toured across Europe while on leave. After the Marines, and college, Bob would make a career with Delta Air Lines in Chattanooga, where his colleagues at Delta would become like family.

Bob married "the prettiest and sweetest girl he had ever seen" Glenda Sue Harvey on May 16, 1966. They made their home in Ooltewah, Tennessee, where they raised their family. Bob enjoyed travel, gardening and was a voracious reader and, because of that, he knew a little bit on most topics as a lifelong learner.

Bob is preceded in death by his beloved wife Glenda Harvey Guffee, infant son Robert Brian Guffee and infant daughter Mary Elizabeth Guffee; father and mother James Fred and Gladys Guffee; brother Freddie Guffee; and nephew Joseph A. Guffee.

Bob was a loving father. He is survived by his daughter Heather Guffee Burgiss and husband Sam of Apex, NC; son Kevin Guffee and wife Michelle of Geneva, FL.

The title of "Grandpaw" was Bob's favorite, and he is survived by grandchildren Brandon, Blake, and Cooper Burgiss, Owen, and Lydia Guffee. He is survived by his dear little sister, Bettye Wells, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral services will take place graveside at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 18th at Christianburg Baptist Church Cemetery, Sweetwater. Click Funeral Home, 109 Walnut Street in Lenoir City, is serving the family of Robert Eugene "Bob" Guffee. www.clickfuneralhome.com

Published September 14, 2021

Upcoming Events