Robert "Bob" A. Guderian

On Tuesday afternoon May 2nd, 2023, Bob won the race he had been training for his whole life. Bob left his 76-year-old earthly body to go meet his Jesus face to face and start a brand new eternal life in Heaven. Robert A. (Bob) Guderian was born in Shawnee, OK to Bill and Janice (Wilson) Guderian. Bob grew up in the small farming community of Bethel, OK. During early years anytime he wasn’t at school he always found work to do on the farm. When Bob talked about the farm, his face would light up, while he told about his mom cooking full meals and bringing them out to the field where the family gathered around a piece of farm equipment to enjoy them. During high school years, he added Math Club, Tennis, Basketball and Choir to his schedule. Bob had a beautiful voice and used playing the piano as his personal form of therapy. After high school Bob joined the National Guard for six years. He started college at Oklahoma University, but soon found out that his blood was orange and finished his college years, graduating from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater...GO POKES!

In 1971 Bob started his banking career in Shawnee, OK. He also held banking positions in Yukon, Oklahoma City, Adair and finished his career doing primarily aircraft lending in Pryor. Bob had a love for small town banking and loved so many of his customers that he really felt like many of them were friends.Bob’s time at Bank of Commerce in Adair proved to be the most fun to tell stories about. In August of 1998, people found out how serious he was about keeping the bank and its money safe. One afternoon there was a robbery at the bank, and he heard one of the tellers yelling about it after that, so he came running from his office and out the door he went! He chased the bank robber until he caught up with him and then reached in his open vehicle window and grabbed the keys, resulting in the robber being caught by law officers. Bob was given a reward from the Oklahoma Bankers Association.

Another interesting but not quite as dangerous adventure from his years in Adair was going into the courthouse in Pryor to protest the bank’s taxes. It was here that he and Paula met. They were married in July of 1995 in the First Church of God by the Reverend  Tom Lee. Bob and Paula were blessed with 27 years of marriage. Bob was a man who was extremely generous but surely didn’t like anyone to know it. Many times, he felt led to give and most times went through back channels to make sure nobody knew the donation came from him. Bob loved being out in the community, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, working with the Sertoma Club and was proud of being named Sertoman of the year. Bob also served in the Lions club for many years, as well as serving on several non-profit boards and city boards.

Bob loved his Creekside Church family (formerly known as Pryor First Church God). Bob was glad to serve in any area that was needed, whether it be a council position where his number-crunching ability was very useful, playing a part in Project Nativity, cooking pancakes for the Men’s Fellowship Saturday Breakfast, Fundraising and going on trips with the youth or teaching several years of Financial Peace. Bob and Paula loved to travel together making memories. They felt very blessed to be able to make 12 trips with their Shelter Insurance Family, and traveling all over the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Bob was loved by this community and will be greatly missed. Bob loved all the special memories with his two children Matthew and Emily. He was so proud of them and loved them with his whole heart. If they ever had a need he would stop and be a problem solver for them. He wanted to do whatever it took to make their lives happier. Bob also enjoyed following Paula around to all the places his bonus son Lucas would go. Bob was at all the band events, sports events, and later the trips to New York, Las Vegas and Portland, Oregon where Lucas’s career paths took him.

Bob leaves behind his beloved wife Paula of Pryor, Daughter Emily of Arch Cape Oregon, Bonus son Lucas Long and wife Marissa of Oregon City, Oregon, Brother-in-law Barry Henson of Coweta, OK, Sister-in-law Peggy Guderian of Shawnee, Ok along with his nieces and nephews.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, son Matthew Guderian, brother Dick Guderian and sister-in-law Connie Henson.

Bob specifically requested that there be no visitation or formal services and Paula is honoring his request. Gifts in memory of Bob can be made to Creekside Church Building Fund or The Heritage Cafe at The Creekside Church. Both of these can be mailed to P. O. Box 1091, Pryor, Ok 74362