Samuel James Guthrie

Beloved husband, proud father, adored grandfather, energetic great-grandfather and great-grandfather to-be, Samuel J. Guthrie, Sr. passed away, Wednesday, July 1, 2020.  

Our hero, and example of all that is the best in this world, was the most loving husband a woman could ever hope to have.  Sam told everyone to call him Grandpop and was always there with a quick witted or dry joke!  He lived to serve (especially Betty) and was a smart, hard-working, devout Catholic.  He loved his scotch and never went without an evening “libation”,

Born August 19, 1927 (92) in Wilmington, Delaware, Sam was the son of Catherine T. (Rowe) Guthrie and Rowland J. Guthrie. 

Sam began work in the 9th grade at a Wilmington Ball Park.  He also worked at GM, and retired after 40 years from the DuPont Experimental Station as a Supervisor in Polymer Products.  He has served Holy Rosary Catholic Church in many capacities, but most notably as a Eucharistic Minister.

With World War II in progress, at 15, he joined the Delaware Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.  He rose through the ranks there, becoming Cadet Squadron Commander of the Wilmington Wing.  In addition to search and rescue, the Delaware Wing of CAP was tasked to perform coastal patrols in search of German submarines, downed airmen, and sailor survivors from sunken ships in the Atlantic.  Sam was a member of the Air Corps Air Combat Reserve for a year, prior to active duty in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1945, where he proudly served during World War II.  As a young Sergeant, he remained in Germany and was able to personally witness the Nuremberg trials.  

Sam was awarded the great honors of the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal, numerous CAP ribbons and the CAP Congressional Gold Medal.

Sam met the love of his life, Betty (Elizabeth M. Loughery) when they were 19, and 17 respectively.  They married on July 26, 1952. Through their iconic marriage of 68 years they raised Samuel J., Jr, of Georgetown, DE (deceased)(Cathy Guthrie), Michael J. of Huntsville, Alabama (Dorothy), Elizabeth Guthrie Bachmurski of Wilmington, Delaware, and Daniel J. of Wilmington, Delaware (Michelle).  Mary Maguire, of Wilmington, Delaware favorite “out-law”

Sam and Betty share 12 amazing grandchildren:

Patrick:  Never selfish, everything he did was for his family.

Shannon:  I always knew I wanted to marry a man like Grandpop.

Kevin: Thank you so much for being the hero I always needed. 

Michael Jr.:  Always faithful and true, an all-American hero.

Holly:  We will always have his kindness, goodness, and humor as a legacy and blessing in our lives.  Pretty much the Fruit of the Spirit, plus humor.

Catherine:  So lovable and the best example of Christian life.

Jack:  One of the greatest blessings of my life.  He is the finest example of a father, husband, and Christian.  The best man I will ever know.

Liz:  So much of who I am is because of you.  One of the biggest blessings of my life is being your granddaughter. I can still keep a secret.  Story #143.  My hero, I love you.

Tim:  The perfect example of what a man should be.

Ryan:  A fount of knowledge, and constantly taught me something new.

Christine:  He is basically Jesus.  I love you and will cherish you forever, Grumpy Gills. 

Lauren:  If anyone said “I feel fine” he would feel your shoulder and say “yeah, you feel fine to me”.

A private, family viewing will be held Wednesday, July 8, 2020.  A Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of his life will be held at Holy Rosary Church, 3200 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, Delaware 19703 on Thursday, July 9 at 11:00AM.  Masks need to be worn and social distancing will be observed.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Holy Rosary Church (address above) or Little Sisters of the Poor, 185 Salem Church Rd, Newark, DE 19713 be made in Sam’s honor.

For those who are unable to attend mass for this amazing man, it will be available for live-streaming and viewing at www.hrparish.com/218 or on YouTube.

As Sam would surely say to all of us: I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one.  I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.  I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, of happy times and laughing times, and bright and sunny days.  I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun, of happy memories that I leave, when life is done.

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