Mr. Samuel Vernon Guthrie, 102
Samuel Vernon Guthrie, 102, of Nashville, died Tuesday January 3, 2023 in the comfort of his home.
He was born January 31, 1920 in Berrien County to the late James Lester Guthrie and the late Pherbia Ford Guthrie. He grew up in the Poplar Springs community where he went to school and drove a bus as a teenager until he graduated in 1939. He was living in Florida driving an ice truck when he was drafted into the US Army at Fort McPherson, GA on January 7, 1942. He served in the European Theatre during World War II. As a light machine gunner with the 5th Infantry Division, attached to Patton’s third army, he participated in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy at Omaha Beach. He later fought in the Battle of The Bulge. He returned home in 1945, and soon after, married his wife Lucille. During his life he was an entrepreneur, starting and running several successful businesses, which included dry cleaning, a grocery store, a truck stop, a trucking business, cruising timber, and a wood yard. For the last 30 years he has owned and operated the sawmill, known as Guthrie Lumber Company in Cecil, GA. In May of 2019, he was recognized for his military service with an Honor Flight to Washington DC, accompanied by his grandson, Ron. He loved riding his tractor, hunting and fishing in his ponds, and telling old tales. More than anything he loved working and was still driving to the sawmill every day at 101 years old. He attended church at Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church later in life.
He was preceded in death by his wife: Lucille Richardson Guthrie; 2 sisters: Betty Ruth Bennett and Valarie Kent; 5 brothers: Bremon Guthrie, Levi Guthrie, Ottis Guthrie, Warner Guthrie, and Eugene Sirmans; and his second wife: Jean Godwin.
He is survived by his son: Ronnie Carl Guthrie (Brenda); grandson: Ronnie Carl Guthrie Jr (Sharla); sister: Natalie Bargus; brother: Hugh Guthrie (Jewel); 3 great-grandsons: Forrest Guthrie, Blake Guthrie, and Joey Whittington; 3 great-grandaughters: Meghan Guthrie Raffield (Brandon), Aly Gipson (Jarret), Cassie Purvis (Jamey); 8 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services were held Friday January 6, 2023 at 2 PM in the Chapel of Lovein Funeral Home with the Rev. James Guthrie officiating. Interment followed in the Westview cemetery. Visitation was Thursday from 6 to 8 PM in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Lovein Funeral Home, Nashville.