Donald Keith Guthrie

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Las Cruces High School New Mexico State University Tufts University University of California| Berkeley

Donald Guthrie Obituary

GUTHRIE-----Donald Keith Guthrie, 73, a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, died at home from complications resulting from Parkinson's disease on March 17, 2010. Keith Guthrie grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where his parents were professors at New Mexico State University. He attended Las Cruces High School and New Mexico State University and he received degrees from the University of California at Berkeley and the Fletcher School of International Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts. As a Fullbright Scholar he studied at the University of the Andes, in Bogota, Columbia. Mr. Guthrie served as a Foreign Service Officer with the United States State Department from 1961 until his retirement in 1991. His diplomatic posts included the Philippines, Panama, Indonesia, Saipan, plus numerous assignments in Washington D.C. His last foreign post was as charge' d'affaires in Belize. Keith had a lifelong interest in railroads and after his retirement researched and wrote articles about the logging railroads in Virginia. His other interests included stamp collecting, bird watching, sailing, hiking, music, playing the piano and clarinet, travel, and languages. Keith Guthrie is survived by wife, Judy Stanford, his brother, Kenneth Guthrie, and his extended family, Simon Stanford (London), Nick Stanford (Edinburgh), Andy Stanford (London), Lauren Sawyer (Boulder), Peyton and Brett Sawyer (Albuquerque), and Jonathon Sawyer (Dallas). A memorial service will be held Tuesday, March 23, 2010, at 10:00 AM, in the Corbett Center Student Union Auditorium on the New Mexico State University Campus, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Parking will be readily available during spring break week. Take Jordan Street south from University Boulevard to Parking Lot 41. Enter building from east entrance. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Mesilla Valley Audubon Society, P.O. Box 1645, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88004. Please visit our online guestbook for Donald at www.RememberTheirStory.com.

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Published by Las Cruces Sun-News from Mar. 21 to Mar. 23, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Donald Guthrie

4 Entries

Monte Shriver

April 15, 2010

Judy, I'm sorry we didn't have the opportunity to visit more at Keith's memorial service in Las Cruces so I would like to share with you a visit I had with Keith in the Spring of 1971 or 72. I had just been promoted to a district level job with the phone company in Las Cruces. I had to attend a conference in D.C. so I decided to call Keith and brag about my new job so I called Keith and he said to meet him at his office in the Old Executive Office Building. I asked him how I would get in and he told me to meet him at the West Gate of the White House where he would have a pass waiting for me. When I arrived, Keith met me at the gate, took me inside the White House grounds and up to his office. I asked him why a State Department employee was working in the OEB. He told me that he was on loan to the National Security Council headed by Dr. Kissinger and that he was in the Secretariat of the NSC which handled all incoming cables. He took me on a tour of the OEB and pointed out to me President Nixon's hide-away office in the OEB. He then took me to the window of his office and pointed down to the West Wing of the White House and said that corner office is Dr. Kissinger's. At that moment his assistant ran in with a cable which Keith scanned and said "get this over to Kissinger immediately"".

I hope I haven't bored you with this story but I don't know if Keith ever let you know he had worked for Dr. Kissinger. Incidentially, as the evening progressed, I decided not brag about the fact I was a district manager with the phone company.

Monte Shriver
Las Cruces

Laura Spencer

March 24, 2010

My sincere condolences and those of my father Lewis Spencer and stepmother Ann Spencer to Judy and all of Keith's family. I am so sorry that I just saw the obituary today. I would have attended the service if I had seen it in time. My mother, Maria Spencer was always so proud of Keith. She and my father treasured Keith's friendship as does Ann and the friendship with Judy. We are so glad that Judy brought so much joy to Keith. Laura Gutierrez Spencer, Las Cruces

March 23, 2010

I have fond memories of Keith from 1st grade at Mesilla Park school through Las Cruces High and especially the spelling bee preparations.
Condolences
Edy Berthelon Macdonald

Monte Shriver

March 23, 2010

Keith was a fraternity brother of mine and a good friend. We will all miss him. Judy and her family are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

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