Viola May Guthrie

Viola May Guthrie died peacefully in her home on July 6, 2012. Born on July 27, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Matthew Hardin Guthrie and Flora Hawthorn Taft Guthrie. She had one sister, the late Barbara Guthrie McDonald, formerly of Catskill, NY. Vee, as she was known to her family and friends, was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas and moved to Baldwin, NY with her family by the time she was 2 years of age. While growing up on Long Island, she enjoyed many summers swimming and sailing in the ocean and was always happy to share her fine memories of her youth. She attended Baldwin Public Schools and upon graduation from high school in 1938, she went on to attend Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, where she graduated with a degree in American Literature in 1942. After graduation from college, Vee worked as an Engineering Aide for the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation in Bethpage, NY during WW II. In 1944, Vee joined the WAVES, a branch of the US Naval Reserves which was established by the US Congress to allow women to serve their country stateside during wartime. Vee was commissioned as a lieutenant on June 27, 1944 and served until the time of her honorable discharge on July 14, 1946. In 1946-1948,Vee pursued her love of drawing and attended the Rhode Island School of Design. Upon completion of her studies, she began a career as a commercial artist and free-lanced for many authors and publishing houses. Her illustrations for many books can still be found today and are cherished by her family. Vee went on to have her own children's book published titled "Amimals from "A to Z" and also illustrated two children's cookbooks written by her sister, Barbara Guthrie McDonald. Vee wrote the Animal Corner for the Register Star and also enjoyed spending time reading to preschoolers for Story Hour at the Hudson Area Library. Vee received her teaching certificate from the University at Albany and in 1968 she became a 1st grade teacher at Claverack Union Free School. She taught many students of the Hudson City School District until the time of her retirement in 1985. Many of Vee's students will recall that her method of instruction in the clasroom focused on kindness and respect to all living things. Vee felt that young children learn best in an environment that is calm and nurturing as well as one full of adventure and interesting learning opportunities. Vee enjoyed taking field trips with her students to the Albert Schweitzer Friendship House in Great Barrington, Massachusetts where they learned about the works of the great humanitarian, Albert Schweitzer and enjoyed a day exploring the beautiful grounds. Since the time of her retirement, Vee spent many years painting watercolors of local landscapes to include Olana and the Catskill Mountains. She also traveled to locations such as Scotland, the Cook Islands, specifically the island of Rarotonga in the Pacific and New Zealand where her talent and use of colors created lovely works of art, some of which have been displayed in many local art shows. Vee is survived by her niece Barbara Ellsworth of Hudson, NY, great-nieces, Jackie Murray of Silver Spring, Maryland, Stephanie Keyser of Claverack, NY, and Jennifer Dailey of Riverdale, NY, and a great-nephew, Michael Ellsworth of Manhattan. In memory of Vee and her wonderful life, contributions may be made to the Columbia Greene Humane Society and the Greene County Council on the Arts.

Viola May Guthrie

July 27, 1920 - July 6, 2012

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Viola May Guthrie

July 27, 1920 - July 6, 2012

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