Wilburn Don Guthrie

Wilburn Don Guthrie of McAlester, Oklahoma passed away on June 19, 2025 at the age of 79. Don was born on July 13, 1945 to General Stanley Guthrie and Velma Lavada (Easley) Guthrie on Mud Sand Route, Soper Oklahoma. Don graduated from Wright City High School in 1963. He attended Oklahoma State University where he graduated in the top of his class with a Master of Science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science. During summers, he worked in engineering for the Weyerhaeuser Company in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Upon graduating from OSU, he took a professorship at Eastern Oklahoma State College and was instrumental in establishing a very successful program of study in Computer Electronics Engineering. He has served as a chairman of various technology committees for the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C. and worked as a consultant to General Electric for several years. While at Eastern Oklahoma State College, he started the company known as Syntec Systems, Inc. where he designed software systems for governmental entities with design emphasis in database management for human resources, accounting, banking and internet services. He was a pioneer in the development of the accounting programs for the State Department of Education for public schools in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He also developed programs for the Department of Labor to track migrant farm workers in the United States. Don married JoAnn Harkey in Maui, Hawaii on April 16, 2002. They established several successful businesses and worked side by side until they retired. They loved nothing better than taking spur of the moment road trips. Don leaves behind his wife, JoAnn (Norbury) Guthrie of the home; his children, Gary Don Guthrie and wife Chrissy of McAlester, OK, Ricky Lee Guthrie and wife Tracy of McAlester, Kelli Dawn King and husband Rodger of Owasso, OK, Scott LeMace Harkey and wife Stacey of McAlester; grandchildren, Hailey Guthrie, Gavin Guthrie, Trevor Kennedy and wife Kamra, Chase Kennedy and wife Ashtyn, Sydney King, Jada King, Brayden Hoffman and wife Paige, Ty Hoffman, Keaton Harkey and Tenley Harkey; great grandchildren, Raylee Mae, Huck, Livy Jo, Briella Rose Kennedy and Kaston Hoffman; two brothers, Adrian and Linda Guthrie of Valliant, OK, and Larry and Judy Guthrie of Garvin, OK; as well as numerous extended family and a host of friends. Don is preceded in death by his father, General Stanley Guthrie; mother, Velma Guthrie; brothers, Wayne and Charles Guthrie; mother of his sons, Roberta Guthrie. Graveside services will be on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 10:00AM at New Talihina City Cemetery with Bro. Monty Thompson officiating. Services have been entrusted to McCarn Funeral Service.

Wilburn Don Guthrie

July 13, 1945 - June 19, 2025