On Friday morning, May 10, 2013, our Dad, Douglas Lloyd Guthrie passed away in his sleep. Douglas was born on October 31st, 1920, in Minot, North Dakota. He grew up on a farm southeast of Surrey, North Dakota with his parents and six brothers & sisters. Douglas was valedictorian of his high school graduating class, and he went on to college to become a teacher. One of his fondest memories was of his experiences on his first “off the farm” job, teaching grades one through twelve in a small one room school house in North Dakota. We remember him telling us about living with the superintendent of schools & his wife and walking through the snow early each morning to get the school warmed up for the students. Our Dad fondly remembered many of those students throughout his life.
Our Dad also had a great enthusiasm for airplanes and flying. He joined the Army Air Corps and took his training in Texas. During that time, he had the great fortune to meet Margaret Lee Francis, a student at North Texas State Teachers College. After serving as a staff sargent & air traffic control tower operator in the South Pacific…New Guinea, Australia, Guam, and the Phillippines, he made McKinney, Texas his first destination back in the States. He & Margaret were married on December 20th, 1945 and so began their marriage of sixty-two years.
Shortly after their honeymoon, Douglas enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin and earned a BS Degree in chemical engineering, graduating with top honors. Immediately upon graduation, he was hired by Humble Oil & Refining Company, later Exxon Mobile, where he worked until his retirement there as a staff engineer. During his working years, one of his greatest pastimes was becoming an amateur “ham” operator. Many fellow ham operators would recognize him by his call letters “K5QVF…Kilowatt 5 Queen Victoria Fox”. He built all of his own equipment and was active in the local ham operators club. Douglas helped several others in their desire to obtain equipment and get licensed. One included a young man who had become a quadriplegic as a result of a swimming accident. He also had the opportunity to help fellow Baytonians communicate with their loved ones during a hurricane in the South Pacific.
Douglas retired at age fifty-eight. During retirement, he took up many projects such as knitting, painting, and refinishing of antique pianos. He and Margaret also enjoyed several extended trips to Spain, Portugal, England, and Switzerland. They were both blessed to have good health and the ability to stay active. They both were faithful mall walkers for twenty plus years.
Douglas was preceded in death by his wife Margaret Guthrie, Mother, Nellie Serena Guthrie, Father, Earl Martin Guthrie, Brothers, James Guthrie and Howard Guthrie, Sister, Faith “Honey” Albrecht, Sister-in-law, Burnette Guthrie, Brothers-in-law, Leonard Luchsinger & Reuben Nordstrom.
Douglas is survived by his Daughter, Beverly Guthrie Reasor and Husband David Jeffrey Reasor, of University Park, Maryland, his Son, Michael Francis Guthrie, of Pasadena, Texas, his Sisters, Lois Luchsinger, of Minot, North Dakota & Gail Nordstrom, of Velva, North Dakota, his Brother, Dennis Guthrie, of Bridgeport, Nebraska, his Brother-in-law, Gene Albrecht, of Piedmont, South Dakota, and several nieces & nephews.
Our family would like to thank the AMAZING Caregivers who cared for Douglas and Margaret over the last several years. They are: Sharon Antoine, Cynthia Phillip, Martin Wickliff, Cynthia Moreno, Patricia Thomas, & Rosley Headley. We also wish to thank the wonderful neighbors & friends who helped Douglas, Margaret, and the family during these last several years. They are: Art & Sue Hutchinson, Earl & Jeanne Morlan, Jeff & Betty Sullivan, and Danny & Vicki Pinson.
Douglas’ wishes were to be cremated with no service. To view the online obituary and post tributes to Douglas, please visit www.earthmanbaytown.com. The family has requested no flowers or memoriums.
Arrangements are under the direction of Earthman Funeral Home, 3919 Garth Road, Baytown, TX 77521
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