Robert Wiley Gudgel

Robert (Bob) Gudgel left this world on December 16, 2017 just short of his 87th Birthday. He was born on December 22, 1930 in Coleman Oklahoma, the 5th of seven siblings to Lloyd and Cecile Gudgel. He was 4 years of age when the family moved to a dairy farm in the Dairyland district of Chowchilla, CA. He attended Dairyland Elementary School and Chowchilla High School while actively participating in basketball, band and later auto racing. Along with his family he was an active member of the First Baptist Church.

During the time at Reedley Jr. College his life-long love of flying started with an aeronautics class and having an older brother Lee Roy serving as a flight instructor during World War II. He then continued with attaining a Private pilot’s license, the first of many ratings. During the Korean War he was with the Air Force Reserve as a meteorologist and attending Fresno State where he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi.

Bob married Laverne Thiel, his high school sweetheart. They had two sons, Daniel and Timothy. He continued pursing an aviation career while farming in the Chowchilla area. Upon earning a commercial pilot’s license he took on a flying profession as an applicator for the Merced County Mosquito Abatement. He then moved the family to Merced. Continuing with attaining pilot ratings of Instrument and Instructor, he with another two area men started a flying school at Merced Airport. During off-seasons with the Mosquito Abatement, his overtime was spent crop dusting with Hamilton Dusters. He later established the Chowchilla, Merced area business under West Coast Flying Service of Madera.

He continued his aviation studies and getting the required flying hours to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot rating. During off-season of crop-dusting, he was employed by Capitol Airways flying cargo, however soon preferred being near family. This was the stimulus to starting his own business, Gudgel’s Aero-Ag Service from an aircraft hangar at Merced Airport later moving to Chowchilla. Following Lions Club contributions towards an extended runway, Bob built his own hangars, an office, restrooms and aviation fuel facilities with a Madera County agreement. Additionally, he assisted other local pilots in building aircraft hangars.

He continued adding to his life of aviation to include charter and instruction, teaching many local pilots, including his wife and two sons who earned advanced ratings as a result of Bob’s instruction, encouragement and support. He had two dedicated lifetime pilots employed during his 54 years of operation, Herbert Newel and Dan Lawrence.

Bob was one of the original promoters in establishing the California Agricultural Aircraft Association in the Fresno Area then joining the international organizing of the industry. He donated flying time and equipment regularly to the local F.F.A., Chowchilla Water District, local businesses and served as a flight safety counselor to the Federal Aviation Agency and was a member of the Quiet Birdmen. His aviation career ended with the loss of eyesight.

He was a longtime member of Madera Golf and Country Club and liked to R.V. travel, fish and golf. Travels included Canada, Mexico, Ireland and the Paris Airshow. He later married Kay DeGroot and golfed regularly in Pacific Grove and in Maui.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lloyd and Cecile (Garrett) Gudgel, siblings Lee Roy Gudgel, Verlin Seaman, Rosella Thornsberry, Loering Gudgel and Elma Dale Kaiser. Surviving is youngest sister, Patricia (Welko) Gasich of Los Angeles and sons Daniel (Tracy) of Lemoore and Timothy of Merced, grandchildren Garrett, Joshua, Jennifer of Lemoore, and Lauren of Merced.

Services will be held on his birthday December 22, 2017 at 12 noon at the Chowchilla Cemetery with a reception to follow. Visitation is also at Palm Memorial Worden Chapel on Thursday evening from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Donations in memory to Alzheimers Research Center, 22512 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksburg, MD 20871. Arrangements under the direction of Palm Memorial Worden Chapel of Chowchilla, California.