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HAVERSTRAW, N.Y. – Luther Newton Guthrie, a resident of Haverstraw, died Tuesday, July 26. He was 88.
He was a hard-working family man, military veteran and small business owner who cherished adventure and spending time with his family. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War.
In September 1969, he opened up Luke’s Auto Body Inc.
H e was born in Jasper, Ala., the son of Luther Ernest Guthrie and Lester Guthrie (Howton).
During his time in the military, he met his wife Dorothy Herring at a West Point dance in the early 1950s, which led him to commit the rest of his life to both her and her native town of Haverstraw, where they raised two children, Kevin and Darlene.
After working for the Ford Motor Company assembly plant in Mahwah, N.J., he worked as a communications lineman for the local telephone company then for local auto dealerships and repair shops (serving as manager for Lyle Lincoln & Mercury and Kurland Cadillac in Nanuet). The Guthries ultimately became thriving and successful small business owners of the aptly named “Luke’s Auto Body Inc.” at 22 Maple Ave., now run by their son Kevin.
He is survived by his children, Kevin Allen Guthrie and his wife Virginia and Darlene Faith Alessio and her husband Frank Alessio; grandchildren, Ashley Marie McDonald (Guthrie) and her husband Shawn, Kristin Leigh Guthrie, Amanda Ellen Guthrie and Alyssa Anne Guthrie, and Stacy Ann Alessio;Lawson Scott McDonald and Audrey Bellarose McDonald; and his brother, John Wesley King.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Peters & St. Mary’s Church, 115 Broadway, Haverstraw. Burial to follow with military honors at the Frederick Loescher Veteran’s Cemetery in New Hempstead.
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