George Robert "Bob" Guyton
Marriages
Maebeth Ridings - February 17, 1952
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B Death Notice - August 9, 2013
George Robert “Bob” Guyton, 88, Grand Junction, died July
26, 2013, at Grandview Care Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Maebeth; one son, Kevin of Paragonah,
Utah; two daughters, Camille Jestrovich of Grand Junction
and Michelle of Longmont; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions to Grand Junction Lions Club, P.O. Box
1948, Grand Junction 81502.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3 D Obituary - August 4, 2013
George Robert “Bob” Guyton
passed away on July 26, at the age
of 88.
Bob was born September 19,
1 9 2 4 , i n E m p o r i a , K a n s a s t o
Homer L. and Louise (Holmes)
Guyton. He was an only child. He
was raised in Cottonwood Falls,
Kansas, and graduated from Chase County Community High School
in 1943. He attended Arkansas State College at Jonesboro, Arkan -
sas and Kansas State College in Manhattan, Kansas. He was drafted
into the Army in 1944, and served in the 66th Panther Infantry Division
and the 42nd Rainbow Infantry Division. He was a driver for
General Harry Collins in Salzburg, Austria, and was honorably discharged
in 1946.
In 1947, he moved to Green River, Wyoming where he owned and
operated a roller skating rink. He also worked for the Union Pacific
Railroad and was a Staff Sergeant for the Wyoming National Guard.
In his last years there, he met his future wife, Maebeth Ridings, who
roller skated at his rink. Bob and Maebeth were married February
17, 1952, in Portales, NM. After they were married, they lived in
Carlsbad, New Mexico, and then Portales, New Mexico.
In 1954, they moved to Grand Junction. Bob leased land at 2833
North Avenue to build The Sands miniature golf course, which
opened in July, 1954. Early in 1955, he purchased two acres of
property at 2878 North Avenue. He relocated The Sands to the new
acreage and renamed it Tee Off Golf. Six years later, he purchased
the Lion’s Kiddie Park in Lincoln Park, which had childrens rides.
He operated both businesses separately until 1970. After closing the
Lion’s Kiddie Park, he transported the rides from Lincoln Park and
incorporated them in the multi-faceted operation, Guyton’s Fun
Park. In the beginning, it was a family-operated business, run by his
wife, Maebeth, and their three children.
Over the years, the park grew to seven acres with new attractions
added each year. The park included a miniature golf course, arcade,
kiddie rides, and thrill rides, which provided “clean, wholesome recreation”
for the entire family. The business became known as Fun
Junction Amusement Park in the 1970s. Bob and Maebeth operated
the park for 45 years, at which time their son, Kevin, took over the
operations. Over the years, the business employed thousands of
youths, many who worked there for multiple summers.
Bob was a member of Lions Club, Rotary Club, VFW, and International
Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. He and
his wife loved to travel and made many trips to Europe to see new
places, as well as old favorites.
He will be greatly missed and remembered by his wife, children,
and grandchildren for his hard work, creativity, wit, dry sense of
humor, and impact he made on the community.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his
beloved wife of 61 years, Maebeth Guyton of Grand Junction, CO;
daughters, Camille Jestrovich of Grand Junction, and Michelle
Guyton and husband, Tom Piekenbrock of Longmont, CO, and son,
Kevin Guyton and wife, Lori of Paragonah, UT; as well as five
grandchildren, Casey, Angelica, and D.J. Jestrovich and McKenzie
Burgess and Chaz Guyton, along with six great-grandchildren.
The family is grateful for all the love and care provided by his caregivers,
most recently GrandView Care Lodge.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Grand Junction
Lions Club, PO Box 1948, Grand Junction, CO 81502 or Harden
Hospice, 2764 Compass Drive, Suite 110, Grand Junction, CO
81506.
Please share your memories, stories, or condolences with the family
at www.callahan-edfast.com.
