Arctic Directory: GBR Equipment’s Robert Reynolds passes away

GBR Equipment said Dec. 7 that its vice president and long-time Alaska resident Robert E. Reynolds, known to his friends and family as “Bobby” or “Catfish,” died Dec. 4 at Providence Hospital Alaska, surrounded by friends and family.

He was the youngest of four brothers and was born to John and Rita Reynolds in Midland, Texas, on Feb. 27, 1954. Bobby’s family moved to Alaska in 1967. Bobby graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1972 and went to work in the oilfield business in Prudhoe Bay in 1973. He worked for Brinkerhoff Drilling as a roustabout for a few years and then went to work for Parker Drilling as a floor hand and eventually worked his way up to driller. In 1984 Bobby went to work for his father John Reynolds at GBR Equipment. Bobby worked for the family business for many years and eventually became a partner in the company business with his brother Billy.

Bobby was an avid hot rod and motorcycle enthusiast and was well known in the motorcycle community in Anchorage. He loved to golf and hang out on his boat at the lake. His favorite sports were baseball and football.

Bobby’s friends and family say you would have to search the world over to find someone with a heart as big as Bob’s. He was always willing to help anyone in need and everybody loved him for it.