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Obituary (VA): William Sherrod Guthrie '49

Posted on 03/18/2019

William Sherrod Guthrie  (May 19, 1926 - March 9, 2019)

Captain William S. Guthrie, U.S. Navy died in Ashburn, VA on March 9, 2019, at the age of 92. He was a native of Punta Gorda, FL, the son of William Ezra Guthrie and Freddie Lee Roberts, who instilled in him the call to service for both his country and his community. He attended Charlotte High School, where he was very active in sports, music and student government. Bill Guthrie was elected the Senior Class President, voted “Most Likely to Succeed” (as well as “Best Looking Boy”) and graduated with Honors in 1944. He took to heart the class motto of “Within Ourselves Our Future Lies”.

Selected by the Navy for its V-12 college program, he attended the University of Miami for one year before receiving a Congressional appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, entering in 1945 with the class of 1949.

Ensign Guthrie’s first assignment was to the USS Columbus, (CA 74) homeported in Plymouth, England. He then went to the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DD 823) via Electronics School in Great Lakes, followed by command of the PC 572 in Newport. After an assignment as an Electronics instructor at FADTC Dam Neck, he reported to the DesFlot 4 Staff as Flag Secretary to Admiral Claude V. Ricketts. He attended the Naval War College in Newport, RI, both as a student and later an instructor. While there, he earned his Master’s Degree in Foreign Affairs from Boston University. His next assignment was as Executive Officer of USS Vesole (DD 872), which saw action in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Assigned for two years to the Amphibious Forces Atlantic, he later transferred to Saigon as Plans Officer on the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam staff. His next duty was as Commanding Officer of the USS Harwood (DD 861), followed by a two-year tour in the Plans Division of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From the Pentagon, he attended the National War College, followed by command of the USS Austin (LPD 4). He then returned to the PhibLant Staff as Force Plans Officer; when the command consolidated into the Surface Forces Atlantic Command (SurfLant), he was the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans.

His last at-sea assignment was as Commander, Amphibious Squadron SIX, highlighted by a Mediterranean tour as Commander, Amphibious Task Forces in the Sixth Fleet. During this tour, he had the privilege of serving as the Senior Officer Afloat for OpSail, the parade of sailing tall ships in New York Harbor to celebrate the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976. Captain Guthrie’s final tour was as an Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel (PERS-8), where he retired from active duty in 1978.

Upon retirement, he was elected Secretary of the Navy Relief Society where he served for six years. In 1985, he was one of the founding Officers of the Surface Navy Association, and served as its Secretary for seven years.

Active in the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter in Vienna, VA, he was a Vestryman, Senior Warden, and a delegate to the Diocesan Council. He later served as the parish Administrator during a decade in which the Church experienced explosive growth and a major building program. Always a fan of choral music, he sang in the Church Choir as well as the Vienna Chorale Society. He was known for his sense of humor, his ability to cut straight to the point, his strong faith, his love of family and community gatherings, and his generosity.

Captain Guthrie and Elizabeth Ann Haller met during his Naval Academy years and were married in June, 1952. Married for 63 years, they enjoyed traveling, lectures on current events, opera performances, cooking and, during their retirement years, trying to keep up with the grandchildren.

Captain Guthrie is survived by his sister Mary K. Cooper of Tampa, FL, and his children; Melinda Adams (Jim) of Williston, SC, Susan (Peter) Spaulding of Hollywood, MD, Mitchell Guthrie (Dorian) of Virginia Beach, VA, Kimberly (AC) Russell of Garnett, KS, and Caroline Guthrie of Reston, VA, and by seven grandchildren.

Memorial Services will be held at Church of the Holy Comforter, 543 Beulah Rd, Vienna, VA on Friday March 22 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions to one of his two favorite charities would be appreciated, or please donate to your favorite charity in his memory:

WETA – Public Television and Classical Music for the Washington DC area Doctors Without Borders – Medical aid where it's needed most—independent, neutral, impartial

Links:

WETA: https://www.pledgecart.org/pledgeCart3/?campaign=469C683D-4E25-4F69-9D59-8293254990F3&source=#/home

Doctors Without Borders: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/onetime.cfm

With great love and appreciation, we wish him Fair Winds and Following Seas.

Money and King Funeral Home and Cremation Services
171 Maple Avenue W
Vienna, VA 22180
Phone: (703) 938-7440

https://www.moneyandking.com/obituaries/William--Sherrod-Guthrie?obId=4219207#/obituaryInfo