MSGT Thomas “Tom” Wesley Guthrie, US Army, Ret.

MSGT Thomas “Tom” Wesley Guthrie, US Army, Ret., age 69 1/2, of Louisburg, North Carolina, passed away peacefully, on 3 July 2022 at 3 AM. He was born in Lynchburg, Virginia to the late Mae Corine Staton Guthrie and the Algia Thomas Guthrie, Jr. on December 25, 1952.

Tom joined the military on 25 January 1971, and served honorably for 20 years in the US Army. His initial military specialty was Stock control and Accounting at the GS/Depot level for Computer Systems Operations. He was assigned to the 696 Ordinance Company (ammunition) in Uijeongbu, Korea, where they did not have any computer systems. Tom became a jack of all trades being the mail room clerk, a PLL clerk for the motor pool, assistant armor, and the Commander's driver. His future military specialty after reenlistment was Air Traffic Control (ATC) Radar Maintenance Repair which he attended a 9-month school at Fort Monmouth, NJ.  Tom went on to become an instructor for ATC equipment at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Thereafter, he was selected to become a member of the US Army's ATC evaluation team and attended training at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for Air Traffic training. This led Tom to assignments at Schwaebisch Hall Germany; Fort Belvoir, Virginia;  Fort Huachuca, AZ; and Fort Rucker, Alabama. He was promoted early to Master Sergeant and retired at 20 years to support his wife Linda in her military career for the next 24 years. Tom retired on 30 September 1991 as the senior US Army Maintenance Evaluator at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

After retirement, Tom attended Georgia Technical Community College, Augusta, Georgia. In 1993, he graduated with degrees in Electrical Mechanical Engineering and Electronic Engineering Technology with a 4.0 GPA. He was recognized as an outstanding student at the school.  Tom went on and worked for the US Army as a civilian at the Heidelberg Hospital repairing medical equipment for the clinical laboratory, radiology, and nursing services.

In 1997, his son Kyle was born in Birmingham, Alabama, while Linda attended Graduate School. He had a love for woodworking and attended classes at the Marc Adam's School of Woodworking in Indianapolis, Indiana. He took classes in marquetry, carving, architecture design, acoustic guitar, and rocking chair design. Tom was awarded the "Masters in Woodworking" from the school. He won a first-place ribbon in the Alabama State Fair for the Williamsburg-style baby cradle in 1997 that he had made for Kyle. At the Virginia State Fair, he won another first-place ribbon for his shaker-style-handled oval trays. 

Tom spent a lot of time researching his family genealogy. After years of research, he determined that his ancestors were English through DNA analysis, and only the name Guthrie was Scottish! Tom and Linda were fortunate to visit the Guthrie Castle in Scotland. He had a love for travel and exploring new countries. Tom's favorite trip was to Australia and New Zealand. In addition, traveling to Lourdes, France, was an exceptional experience where Saint Bernadette had visions of the Virgin Mary.   

During the 20 years of living in Germany, Tom found repairing old German radios brought him much joy. With his Army radar training, repairing 1950's tube radios was a natural extension of his electronic background knowledge. Tom and Linda visited many German Flea markets buying these old radios to repair and use for parts. The radios had an exceptional sound that he loved to listen to.

Tom felt his most outstanding accomplishment in his life was raising his son Kyle to become a man. He was a very proud father, and loved Kyle with all of his heart and soul. Tom's last wish for his son was to graduate from College. After years of study, Kyle will graduate at the end of this year with his bachelor's degree. Tom was very happy to know that his son was completing his degree.  

A graveside service will be held at  10 o’clock, 8 July 2022, at Pine Forest Memorial Gardens, Wake Forest, North Carolina.
 
MSGT Guthrie is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lt Col Linda Lee Greene Guthrie US Army, Ret.; son, Kyle Thomas Guthrie & his wife Anika of Abilene, TX; granddaughter, Athena Lee Guthrie; Gary Guthrie of Nathalie, VA; extended family and many friends throughout the world.
 
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Fisher House Foundation 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20852 (www.fisherhouse.org) 
 
A service of Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home, Wake Forest (919-556-7400)
 
 Online condolences can be made at www.cswfuneralhome.com