Obituary of Theodore Francis Guba

Theodore Francis “Ted” Guba, 75, a resident of West Columbia, passed away on June 24, 2019 at National Health Care of Columbia. He was born in Boston, MA on February 5, 1944 and graduated from Boston Technical High School before joining the Army where he served from 1961-1964. He met his wife Linda in 1967 while she was living with her sister Judith Bickley who was attending Boston University.

They were married in June of 1968 and moved to New York where Ted had been hired by The Daily News as a typesetter. After 5 years in NY, they moved back to Boston when his father was retiring from the optical business where he owned West Roxbury Opticians.  Ted worked as a journeyman learning the optical business from his father and his great uncle Connie who was also a pioneer in the optical industry, having worked for American Optical Co. for over 50 years. Upon receiving his Opticians License, he opened The Optical Centre in West Roxbury Ma and later opened The Hingham Optical Shoppe in Hingham Ma. He retired in 2004 and he and Linda moved to West Columbia to help with the care of his aging mother-in-law Carolyn Bickley who passed away last week, 9 days shy of 101 years of age.

He was an avid fan of horse racing and found Saratoga NY, The August Place to be.  His wish was to be cremated and have his ashes spread over the finish line At Saratoga Thoroughbred Race Track.  He was at The Belmont Stakes when Secretariat won The Triple crown in 1973, an event that he never forgot, for it was the thrill of winning and the agony of defeat that kept him interested in handicapping the program of the day.

He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Linda Bickley Guba; his devoted daughter, Robin Guba Cox and her husband, Billy Cox; a grandson, Liam Jude Cox; his brother, Robert T. Guba; two brothers-in-law, John E Curry  and Bruce Bickley and wife, Vickie Lovett; three nephews, Dennis Smith, Brian Smith and Greg Bickley; a niece, Francine Denisi. In addition to his parents, Theodore Edward and Helen Melly Guba; he was predeceased by his sister, Dorothy Alred; a nephew, Vito Denisi; and his sister-in-law, Judith Curry; his father and mothers-in-law, Charlie and Carolyn Bickley. He will be missed by many friends near and far.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Theodore F Guba Memorial Fund ℅ Palmetto Citizens Credit Union to help with end of life costs and expenses during this difficult time.

All excess donations will be donated in memory of Ted to: 

Leeza’s Care Connection, Irmo, SC,

http://www.leezascareconnection.org/

Make checks payable to:

THEODORE F GUBA MEMORIAL FUND

Mail To: 

PALMETTO CITIZENS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

PO BOX 5846

Columbia, SC 29250