Bobby Ray “Bob” Edmonds, age 74, of Branson, MO passed from this life surrounded by his loving family on February 2, 2018 at Barnes Jewish Hospital-Siteman Cancer Center.

Bob was born August 5, 1943 in Dora, MO. He was preceded in death by his father Guy Preston Edmonds and mother Zalla Gertrude (Ballinger) Edmonds. As a young boy he was baptized and a member of West Plains Church of God. Bob lost his father when he was 16 and felt a responsibility to take care of his mother and sister. In addition to attending school, managing a paper route and washing windows for local downtown businesses, he took a job at a West Plains dental lab sweeping floors and delivering dentures to local dentists on his bicycle.

After graduating from West Plains High School in 1961, Bob moved into the YMCA in
Springfield, MO. He attended SMSU and took a job as a denture technician at Ozark's Dental Lab. Later he became a partner in Bauer-Edmonds Dental Lab. In 1983 he became sole owner of Edmonds Dental Prosthetics where he was able to grow the dental laboratory from 22 employees to 135 employees before retiring in December of 2012.

Bob was a respected businessman and gave his time to numerous industry and charitable organizations. He received many well-deserved honors throughout his career including being inducted into the Springfield Dental Society as an Honorary Member. He served as President of TEREC - Technical Research Consortium of independently owned dental laboratories across the US and Canada and in 2005 he was proud to have his company selected as Springfield Manufacturer of the Year. He also served on many boards including the Jeff Julian ALS Foundation.

Bob was married January 7th, 1973 to Linda Lee Edmonds. They raised 5 children together combining yours, mine and ours into a loving, close-knit family. He is survived by his wife Linda of Branson, MO, sister Sherrill and Jim Dorris of West Plains, MO, son Steve Edmonds and wife Sue of Springfield, MO, daughter Sherry Edmonds of Colorado Springs, CO, daughter Pam Bachus and husband Randy of Springfield, MO, daughter Patty Mason of Springfield, MO, daughter Lori Williams and husband Bush of Little Rock, AR, and grandchildren Gretchen (Steve) Hanson, Jake (Cassie) Johnson, Madison (Phillip) Heppeler, Jordan Edmonds, Reagan Bachus, Ryan Bachus, Erin Bachus, Catalina Williams, Harbor Williams, Fischer Williams, Sage Keener, four great grandchildren, brother-in-law Larry (Cindi) Brooks, sister-in-law Tammy (Keith) Luce, and many extended family and friends.

Bob and Linda loved traveling, spending time with their family and friends in Destin, FL, and entertaining in their home. He was an avid outdoorsman enjoying fly fishing, hunting, deep sea fishing, and golf.

A Memorial Service will be held to celebrate Bob’s life on Saturday, February 10th, 2018 at 2:00 pm at King’s Way United Methodist Church, Springfield MO immediately followed by a reception in the King’s Way Family Life Center.

Memorial contributions in Bob’s honor may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Boys and Girls Club of Springfield or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The family would especially like to thank all of the wonderful doctors and nurses that cared for him during his courageous battle.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home East, Springfield, Missouri.

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