Dr. Robert Dale Gulbro, 84
Born 09/27/37-Spring Grove, MN
Soared 08/20/2022-Huntsville, AL
Bob Gulbro, one of the greats, left for his Maker from a brief stint in Huntsville Hospital on August 20, 2022. He was surrounded by love and prayers and family and friends.
Born to a hard-scrabble farm life in Minnesota, Bob moved to Highlandville, IA with his dad, James Theodore, beloved mom, Blonda Charlotte, and adored older sister, Norma Jean, when he was two. By age four, Bob was driving the hay wagon pulled by two horses, Dave (the strong one) and Ray (the smart one). By then Bob had a baby brother, Curtis. Bob stated that as he was “no longer the baby, it was a sad day.” At age five, he started at the one room school three miles from home and was placed in the second grade. He was already reading thanks to his Mom’s homeschooling. This started Bob on a life-long love for learning and for teaching.
By 1951, Bob rode a proper bus to a larger school. On June 4, 1955, he graduated. On June 5, 1955, without knowing how to swim, he enlisted in the Navy. He stated that he “rode a bus to Spirit Lake, Iowa to be sworn in.” From there, Bob’s life would never be the same. This started Bob on a life-long love of travel. From his Navy ships he visited Cuba, Spain, Scotland, South America, the Panama Canal, and both the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. He was Honorably Discharged from the Navy in 1959.
Throughout the 1960’s Bob worked a myriad of jobs and lived in a dozen states; a summer on Long Island, a year in Las Vegas, a gig in Texas, even training and travel to Norway and Hawaii. By 1969, Bob had obtained a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a MBA. He later went on to work with Col. Harlan Sanders at Kentucky Fried Chicken. His favorite stores in his territory were those in New Orleans. From there Bob worked at many colleges and universities, ultimately becoming the Dean of Business at Athens State University in 2000. He had worked eight years on his DBA from Mississippi State University. Bob was published in journals, well respected by staff and very loved by students. His greatest goal was in “working with students and seeing them succeed in education and in life.”
Bob Gulbro embodied many awesome things; servanthood, faith, leadership, love, laughter, optimism, unwavering support. The list goes on and on. He was the one who never judged, always listened more than he talked and never gave up. He also had a dynamite smile and a big laugh.
When Bob wasn’t at school or grading papers, he enjoyed time with his beloved wife, Dona (he called her “the girl of my dreams”), ballroom dancing, traveling, and guest preaching at the Belle Mina church (he was also a Certified Lay Speaker and a few credits shy of meteorology degree). Close family and friends also know Bob loved lots of Dukes Mayo with plenty of napkins, horn-honking while driving, and a great glass of bourbon!
Visitation will be Friday, August 26, 2022 1-3pm at Belle Mina United Methodist Church.
Memorial service will directly follow.
In lieu of flowers, please do something kind for a stranger in Bob’s honor. Monetary donations can be sent to:
Belle Mina United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 68
Belle Mina, AL 35615
