Bobby Gene Gatewood, affectionately known to close friends and family as “Bud” ascended peacefully on June 18, 2025, at Spartanburg Regional Hospital following complications from a recent stroke. Closing out a life marked by resilience, laughter, and the kind of warmth you often didn’t find. He was 87 years old.

Born in 1938 in South Carolina, Bobby lived filled with old-fashioned values, a solid work ethic and quiet devotion to the people he loved most. He spent forty years working as a certified commercial truck driver with Jonathan Logan, Butte Knit, and various other companies logging millions of miles with the kind of focus and tenacity only a man known over the “CB” airwaves as “Night Train” could carry. His voice crackling over the airwaves was familiar to drivers from coast to coast, always ready with a witty quip and a stout observance of the road ahead. However, his proudest role was being a loving husband, devoted father, caring grandfather, treasured great-grandfather, and lasting friend.

Bobby was married to the one person who cherished and adored him beyond measure, his beloved wife, Mamie Helen Gatewood. Their unwavering bond for 43 years was strong and steady. Their home was warm, welcoming, and filled with joy — a place where food was plenty, coffee was always brewing and the door always open.

He was a man of simple pleasures yet enjoyed quality products. Let’s just say generic brands were never his preferred choice. A piping hot good home-cooked meal — especially if it included a perfectly prepared steak, creamy potatoes, and lima beans were his favorites. Sundays often meant watching NASCAR on his big screen television with feet perched up on his recliner.

To know Bobby was to know someone who never met a stranger. He had the rare gift of connection, simply striking up conversations that somehow turned into stories with random individuals. He had a sense of humor that could disarm the most serious soul and a generous heart that gave without asking for anything in return.

Bobby is survived by his son Michael Gatewood (Marion), daughter Lisa Gatewood-McMillan (Cletis), 2 loving grandchildren, Carmicah Rice (Christopher) and Anticia Robinson (Marquez) and 3 great-grandchildren, Cannon, Christian, and Ethan along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Sharon Gatewood Huff, and sister Gerline Davis and now joins them in peace. His endearing legacy continues to flourish in the lives of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who carry forward his strong spirit, quick wit, and love for life’s simple joys.

Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at The John Stinson Woodward Memorial Chapel, 602 Howard St., Spartanburg, SC. Burial will be in the Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens. He will lie in state from 11:00am until the hour of service.