More detail on this person: LTC (Ret. USA)
Jerry L. Guthrie, born on June 8, 1940, to
Jeremiah and Frances Butler Guthrie in Little
Rock, AR passed away on June 29, 2013, after a
long battle with dementia. He was a loving
husband, father and grandfather and friend to all.
He was part of history as a rising senior on
September 4, 1957, the first day of school at
Little Rock Central High School when the Arkansas
governor deployed the Arkansas National Guard to
prevent African American students from entering.
Police escorts entered the African American
students in, weeks later and President Eisenhower
ordered troops from the 101st Airborne Division to
protect the students the remainder of the school
year. Jerry was in homeroom and graduated in June
of 1958 with Ernest Green, the first African
American to graduate from Little Rock Central.
Jerry continued his education at Henderson State
Teachers College in Arkadelphia, AR receiving a BS
in Mathematics and was commissioned a 2LT in
the U. S. Army. Jerry married Marilyn Welsh and
raised a family of three boys while making a
career in the Army. His travels included: Fort
Rucker, AL; Fort Walters, TX; Fort Knox, KY; Fort
Polk, LA; two tours in Vietnam; Schofield
Barracks, HI; HQ TRADOC, Fort Monroe, VA; and
OTEA, Falls Church, VA. While at HQ TRADOC,
Fort Monroe, VA and Fort Rucker, AL he was proud
to have worked on the development of the Apache
Helicopter and being able to assist in its
fielding. Jerry served his country for over 20
years and retired as a Master Aviator in September
1985. Jerry married Dawn Lyon Pope in November
1985, and they lived in Hampton, VA where he
began a new career at Allen Corporation. After
numerous company buyouts he retired from
Lockheed Martin in 2002 and they moved to
Gloucester, VA where he fished to his heart's
content on his property on Cow Creek Mill Pond
and enjoyed his beloved dogs, Ginger and B.J. His
last job was with Bill Fary Ford as a part-time
salesman where he truly enjoyed pleasing people
with Ford automobiles. Jerry was preceded in death
by his parents, his brother Donald James (Donnie)
Guthrie, and his stepmother Jean Berg Guthrie. He
is survived by his loving family, wife Dawn; three
sons, Jerry Donald Guthrie (Betsy) of Richmond,
VA; Richard Jackson Guthrie (Tina) of Hampton,Va;
and LTC David James Guthrie (Jennifer) of Fort
Carson, CO; his stepbrothers Larry Koehler
(Melody) and Chuck Koehler (Janie); and stepsister
Gina A. Benezue all of Little Rock, AR. He is also
survived by his seven wonderful grandchildren,
Elizabeth, Laura, Cathryn, Kelly, Sarah, William
and Matthew Guthrie; several nieces and nephews;
and his puppy girl Brandy. A Celebration of Life,
officiated by Pastor Jon Gibson of the Church in
Restoration, Hanover, VA will be held 7 p.m.
Friday, July 5, 2013 at Hogg Funeral Home, 3098
George Washington Memorial Highway, Hayes, VA.
The family will receive friends prior to the
service on Friday from 6 until 7 p.m. at the
funeral home. Interment for LTC (Ret) Jerry
Guthrie will be held at a later date at Arlington
National Cemetery. In our loved one's memory
contributions may be made to Alzheimer's
Association , 4600 Cox Rd, Suite 130, Glen Allen,
VA 23060. Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
03/10/2024
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Published in Daily Press on July 4, 2013
Jerry served a second tour in Nam but I know not
what unit.
Jerry and I and my Platoon Sergeant, Randy Nees,
were all wounded on 30 June 1967 en route to Can
Tho. Jerry and I had two days left in country and
left one of the harrowing days for last.
Fortunately the crew and aircraft all survived.
From: Dave Cunningham