Barbara Marie Gunby

Barbara Marie Gunby, 86, died on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Grace Davis Hall Hospice in Summerfield, FL. She was born into this life on December 24, 1938 in Stapleton, GA and was the daughter to the late Charlie Cato and Alice Rhodes Cato. Barbara moved to Dunnellon, FL in 2000 from Virginia Beach, VA. When Rainbow Springs Golf and Country Club was in existence, she enjoyed golfing and became part of the Rainbow Springs Niners. Barbara also enjoyed playing Bunco, Mahjong, and helping with the Garden Club. She was a member of the First Methodist Church in Dunnellon. Barbara enjoyed life to the fullest and will be forever remembered by her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her sisters, Annette Guy and Sara Bentley, her brother, Lamar Cato, and her grandchild, Christopher Caudle.

Barbara married her high school sweetheart, Robert “Bob” Gunby,  at Walden’s Church in Stapleton, Georgia on July 23, 1956 shortly after she graduated from high school. From there they moved to Brunswick, Georgia where her husband was stationed in the Navy.  That is when Barbara’s love for travel was born and she and her husband, Bob, travelled extensively throughout his career in the Navy and thereafter up until their health deemed it was no longer possible.  While stationed in Rota, Spain they travelled all around Europe and she spoke fondly about their adventures throughout that time.  During her lifetime, their many adventures took them to almost every state in the United States, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, Holland, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and many, many other beautiful countries. Barbara had a great love of flowers and her ability to make everything grow always lended to a beautiful yard blooming with an array of colors and scents.  She would spend hours planting and tending to her beauties and was always so proud of her creations.  We would spend hours walking through, watering, and talking about her newest members of her floral masterpieces. Barbara absolutely loved to entertain and her parties, big and small, were always epically successful.  She was the quintessential hostess and her food, hospitality, and zest for life was the foundation for each and every memorable event.  Friends, family, food and fun brought her to life and were truly her element.  Family game nights were one of her favorite times and we, as her family, never discovered how she was able to win every single game - no matter what she played.  So much laughter and speculation on how she was able to accomplish this and we will spend the remainder of our days trying to unlock this mystery.  Will forever make us smile. Barbara began a career in 1978 as a part-time sales associate at Smith & Welton Department Store in Norfolk, VA. Her keen eye for fashion and ability to connect with people led to her continuous achievement of sales person of the month.  Her success quickly led to her promotion to assistant manager, which ultimately resulted in her managing her own store in Virginia Beach, VA. She remained with Smith & Welton until the company closed all stores in 1988.  From there, Barbara began working with The Navy League in Virginia Beach up until her husband retired and they moved to Dunnellon, Florida in 2000. She loved this career as well, since she worked closely with the Navy in setting up commissions of new ships and carriers and arranging the festivities for these and many other events. Barbara doted on her grandchildren and they each were the light of her life. There are so many grandma stories which will sustain her family for years to come. Sadly she never was able to meet any of her great-grandchildren, but loved them each immensely. She was able to dote on them through video chats, phone calls, and pictures.

Those left to cherish her memories are: her husband of sixty eight years, Robert Gunby; her son, Steven Gunby; her daughter, Susan Caudle; her four grandchildren, Matthew Caudle (Amy), Timothy Caudle (Somer), Natalie Caudle and Casey Gunby, and her three great grandchildren, Sophie Caudle, Kaden Gunby, and Quinn Gunby.

Barbara’s Memorial service will be held at the First Methodist Church in Dunnellon, FL.  SERVICES PENDING