Guthrie, William Elza

 

William Elza Guthrie was born in Charlotte Harbor, Florida on December 28, 1895, only eight years after the incorporation of Punta Gorda.  His father, William B. Guthrie, was instrumental in establishing the commercial fishing industry at Charlotte Harbor after arriving with wife, Lillian, from North Carolina. 

Will Guthrie spent most of his life working in the fishing industry, 44 years with the Punta Gorda Fish Company, where he became a senior officer, its secretary and treasurer.  Will’s first career though was teaching at the local school in Charlotte Harbor, where he met his wife, Freddie Lee Roberts, also a teacher, whom he married in 1919.  His concern for schooling led to a 19-year role on the Charlotte Country School Board, sixteen of those years as Chair of the Board.  

Guthrie was also very active civically, as a charter member of the Punta Gorda Rotary and a grandmaster of the Masons Lodge of Punta Gorda.  Thanks to him, we have a written history of the local fishing industry that he wrote for a presentation to the Rotary. 

Will and Freddie made their home and raised six children in Punta Gorda, where Mrs. Guthrie also became very involved in the community, serving among other roles, as President of the Punta Gorda Woman’s Club.  

Will passed away at 67 in 1963.  At his funeral, the pall bearers and honorary pall bearers included a large roster of Punta Gorda’s civic leaders of the day.