Thomas Andrew Gunter

Thomas Gunter passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2023 in Pensacola, FL. Tom was born to Arlie and Helen Gunter on September 17, 1948 in New Orleans, LA. He and his family lived around the world with his Navy dad, from Tangier, Morocco to Northern Ireland as well as several stateside naval bases, and he gained such a perspective on life and adaptation from those travels. His mother taught him to “bloom where you are planted”, and it served him well. Tom graduated from Pensacola High School in 1966, Pensacola Junior College, where he was a member of Delta Kappa Alpha, and the University of West Florida with a degree in Business and Finance. Tom was very proud of the fact that he was one of the founders of the FL Sigma chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at UWF, and he renewed old friendships upon retirement as a member of the local alumni association. He began his career in Finance with GMAC shortly after graduation, and interrupted that career with a tour in Viet Nam with the United States Marine Corps. Tom was always very proud of that service but never advertised it. Not long after his return to civilian life he went to work for Chrysler Corporation in their Finance Division. His 32-yr career with Chrysler Financial took him to Tallahassee, Tampa, Orlando, Memphis, Baton Rouge, Denver, Charlotte, Detroit, and Dallas before retiring in Pensacola. That sounds like a lot of moving but it was part of what made him who he was. Tom married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor Godwin, and they enjoyed traveling with dear friends in their retirement. She shared her favorite destination of Florence, Italy, and he shared his in Derry, Northern Ireland among other fun trips. In addition to traveling, Tom and Eleanor enjoyed boating on Bayou Texar, the golden hour on the dock, and frying turkeys with the assistance of Robert and Ellie. He was happy in a Boston Whaler with cigar in hand. He was also happy to help crew and clean up friends’ bigger boats. And there was nothing wrong with chocolate cake and red wine when a sudden thunderstorm cancelled a dinner ashore. Tom and Eleanor moved to a condo on Escambia Bay in 2015 and spent their next set of happy hours overlooking the bay from their balcony.

Tom is survived by his loving wife Eleanor Godwin, his sister, Patricia Martin, (Richard Wheeler), Cumming, GA; brother, Alan (Tina), Summerville, SC; nieces, Blair and Paige Martin, and nephews, Nicolas and Michael Gunter; sister in law Dale Schneider (Tom), and niece Ellie Schneider, and nephew, Robert Pennington; goddaughter, Honey Godwin Harris, and a host of dear friends.

Tom suffered from dementia and Parkinson’s but never lost his spirit or his sense of humor. He was loving, appreciative, and funny until the end. He and Eleanor were true soulmates, and he will be greatly missed. Many thanks to his caregivers from Home Instead, who provided him with companionship and care while he was still at home, and the staff at both The Blake Memory Care and Emerald Coast Hospice whose care and compassion were greatly appreciated in our time of need. We cannot thank you enough.

Semper Fi and Phi Alpha, Tom. Those of you who knew him well know that he is reunited with his old friend, Jerry Mock, and the Tom and Jerry Show lives on. I’m proud to have been your other half for all these years. We loved a lot and laughed a lot, and it doesn’t get much better than that.

Visitation will be at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel at 10am on Saturday, July 29, followed by the service at 11. In Tom’s honor, please dress comfortably. Ties and socks are not required and are discouraged. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Emerald Coast Hospice or the charity of your choice.