Life Story for Robert “Dr. Bob” Gwinner MD Dr. Bob was born in upstairs bedroom at 316 W 9th St, Dover, Ohio to Loretta Obermiller Gwinner and Guilford Gwinner on October 25, 1924. His father was killed in a railroad accident when he was 9 months old. He and his mother were living in Galian, Ohio at the time and they moved back home to Dover. He had very happy childhood. He basically had four mothers, his mom, his grandmother Elizabeth Obermiller and two Aunts, Mayem & Helen Obermiller. He also had an older sister, Georgia Gwinner Berenhauser. He attended St Joseph’s School for the first ten years and when his mother remarried to Dr. Burrell Russell he moved to New Philadelphia, Ohio and graduated high school there in June 1942. That fall he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until January 1946. After boot-camp he served on the U.S.S. Petit, a destroyer escort and made twenty- two successful round trip crossings of the North Atlantic with convoys. They finished the war doing island searches in the Pacific. He went to college on the G.I. Bill and in June 1946 he enrolled in Pre-Med at the Ohio State University. He graduated in 1949 with a BA and entered medical school that fall. He graduated in June 1953 with an MD. His seven years at Ohio State left him a lifelong loyal Buckeye. After completing his internship at Mercy Hospital in Toledo he entered private practice on June 1954 on Euclid Ave. in east Toledo. He made many good friends in Toledo and in the late 1950’s, one of them, Lloyd Ransom, convinced he and Fred Springer to go to Sun Valley for a ski vacation. They were so impressed with Sun Valley and Ketchum that they returned every year for the last week in Feb and first week in March. In the summer of 1968 he came to Ketchum with Fred Springer, who was involved in starting the development of Bigwood. He had the best and luckiest day of his life – he met Patricia Syms. It was truly love at first sight. He had to return to Toledo and didn’t see her again until the winter of 1968 on his ski vacation. They were married November 1, 1969 because, as he said, they couldn’t afford the long- distance phone bills. He not only got a beautiful and lovely wife but five children, Bill, Chris, Kevin, Patti & Scott Syms. What a deal! He was also lucky enough to be able to join Dr. Alden Packer at the Blaine County Hospital to pursue his practice as a General Physician for 20 years in the Wood River Valley. Dr. Bob was an avid golfer, skier and fisherman. Upon retirement he became a snowbird and spent his winters golfing with his beloved Patricia in Palm Desert. They both returned to the beautiful Wood River Valley for the spring summer & fall months to camp, fish & play golf! He was preceded in death by his wife Pat, his son Billy & daughter- in-law Gerry and his grandson Carson. He is survived by his daughter Patti (Louis), 3 sons Chris (Mary Ann), Kevin (Jeffra) & Scott, his sister Georgia, his 8 grandchildren Billy, Ashley, Katy, Christy, Jason, Ben, Daniel & Kelsey and 3 great grandchildren. A Memorial Service is being planned to be held in June 2018. The family would like to thank Hospice of the WR Valley for all their caring & loving support. In lieu of flowers please make any donations to the Hospice of the WR Valley, P.O. Box 4320, Ketchum, ID 83340. Order Flowers
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Robert A Dr Bob Gwinner MD 1924 2018. Wood River Chapel
Death notice for the town of: Hailey, state: Idaho