Charles Robert "Bob" Gunn

charles gunn
Charles R. "Bob" Gunn, a resident of Givens Estates in Asheville, North Carolina, died September 26, 2015 at the age of 88. Bob, who was a botanist with a lifelong specialty in seed identification, was born in Columbus, Ohio, graduated from Iowa State College and was hired by a seed company in Louisville, Kentucky, and met his future wife, Betty. Later, the couple and their two small children moved back to Iowa where he worked his way through the renamed Iowa State University and received a Ph.D. In 1965, he was hired by the United States Department of Agriculture to be the director of what is now known as the U.S. National Seed Herbarium. From 1965 through his retirement in 1992, he led the growth of the herbarium, which is considered the world's largest taxonomic seed collections with more than 100, 000 samples, many of which he collected. While director, he gained national publicity after spotting jewelry made with poisonous seeds -- Abrus precatorius – for sale at a major department store chain, which led to recalls and changes in federal policies. And, he and a coworker published the first paper documenting the use of a computer for automated seed identification. He also identified seeds for forensic analysis, and even contributed to the design of a postage stamp. Bob published about 150 papers and books, including a multi-volume series of seeds and fruits of 375 legume genera. In this study, he discovered new genus of African legume. He was honored by his colleagues, who named the genus Bobgunnia. His hobby also involved seeds: collecting and writing about tropical seeds and fruits carried by ocean currents to temperate beaches. He co-wrote a book on the topic. In the early 1990s, he and his wife retired from their home in Maryland, to Brevard, N.C., and ten years ago moved to Givens Estates. He enjoyed the Sunday-evening bridge group. Bob was active in his children's lives and was proud of his children and grandchildren. He especially enjoyed family visits in recent years. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty, of Givens Estates; daughter Laura Leff (Adam) of Hudson, Ohio; son Steve (Jean Harris) of Norfolk, Va., and four grandchildren: Kathryn Gunn of Evanston, Ill.; Alexander Gunn of Carrboro, N.C.; and Benjamin and Amelia Leff, both of Hudson; and cat, Catie Jane. No memorial service is planned. Memorials may be made to a Western Carolina cat rescue organization, www.CatMan2.org: CatMan2; P.O. Box 2344, Cullowhee, NC 28723. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.

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  1. I am really going to miss Bob, and especially our weekly telephone conversations. He was my mentor, colleague and friend in the Agricultural Research Service, and contributed significantly to making my career at ARS successful. I always sought his advice, which was unfailingly good, and we discussed everything. I will sorely miss him.

  2. Bob gave a gift to beachcombers worldwide when he published \World Guide to Tropical Drift Seeds and Fruits.\’ What are sea-beans? Where do they come from? Why do they travel? Bob and his co-author John Dennis answered all of these questions and many more. Curious beachcombers are forever indebted to his intellect and expertise in this field of otherwise little explored botany. For years we enjoyed Bob at the Annual Beachcombers\’ Festival and Sea-Bean Symposium held in Florida. As he grew in years his particpation in the Symposium and the annual newsletter \’The Drifting Seed\’ slowed down but Bob was always a phone call or email away and happy to share his knowledge. Bob we are forever grateful for your contribution to the field of botany and as we walk our favorite beaches and discover curious and beautiful seeds we will think about you and the legacy you have left.’


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