Retired Master Sgt. William Bobby Gunnells, 76, Carbondale, Kansas, passed away peacefully at his home June 27, 201 after a long battle with Parkinsons disease. Bobby was born in Olar, South Carolina, April 12, 1943, the son of Shelley Gunnells and Judith Hair Gunnells. Bobby married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Maggie Sheddan, Aug. 21, 1965, in a church at Forbes Field in Topeka. Bobby retired from the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment after serving 27 years in the Kansas Army National Guard. After serving his country, he went to work at the Walmart Distribution Center in Ottawa for 10 years. He was a family man, raising his four kids with Maggie on their farm just outside of Carbondale. He took his family on numerous vacations so they could travel and see the United States. Bobby was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, Papa and friend. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and two sisters. He is survived by his wife Maggie of 53 years; children; Sheila (Joe) Kearney, Lisa Gunnells, Amy Gunnells, and Wade (Jodi) Gunnells; 10 grandkids; nine great grandkids; sisters, June Ragsdale in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, and Connie Barrios in Buffalo, New York. Graveside services and military honors will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 2 at the Carbondale Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday evening, July 1, at the Davidson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Northeast Kansas Parkinsons Inc., or to Interim Hospice. On-line condolences can be left at
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