Karl Robert (Bob) Gonter

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Mr. Karl Robert (Bob) Gonter, 85, of Lakewood, Wash., died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. He was born Dec. 6, 1927, at Alderton, Wash.

He was retired from the Air Force, a first generation commercial pilot (which has extended to three generations of aviators), Gonters' Music City and as a real-estate broker.

Community service was important to Bob. He was a member and supporter of the Rotarian, Lakesmen and worked on the Daffodil Festival, Wrangler and stock holder of The Puyallup Fair, Elks, and VFW. Bob played a big part in the rebuilding of the American Lake Veteran's Hospital Golf Course and clubhouse. He was an organizer of the Doolittle Raiders reunion that was held in Tacoma in 1989.

He was preceded in death by one daughter Mary Elizabeth Gonter-Blondin; his parents, Bernhardt Henry and Nelly Smiley Gonter; one brother, Bernhardt Henry Gonter II; and three sisters, Marie Hause Freeman, Betty Gearon and Doris (Shugie) Clifford.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary F. Ellis Gonter;

One daughter, Karline (and Bennie) Elder of Arkansas ;

Three sons, Karl (and Mary L.) Gonter Jr. of California, Kari Gonter of California, and Bernhardt Gonter III if Washington;

Fifteen grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren;

One brother, Gary Gonter of Washington; and

Many other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Pierce College Foundation in memory of Mary Gonter-Blondin, 1601-39th Ave. SE, Puyallup, WA 98374-2222

A memorial service will be held at Mt. View Funeral Home in Tacoma, Wash., with

burial at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash.