Lolita Ann (Thayer) Guthrie passed away peacefully on Nov. 16, 2015.

She was born September 14, 1925 in Hancock County, Indiana to Orlando Franklin and Lora Frances Wall Thayer. After growing up in Anderson, IN, she graduated from Ball State Teachers College (now University) with a Bachelor in Education in 1947.

In late 1943, she met Mearl Guthrie at Ball State, where he was in Army training before seeing active service in Europe. After WWII ended, Mearl returned to marry Lolita and join her in completing college degrees. They were married July 21, 1946, at Central Christian Church in Anderson, Indiana, and enjoyed 66 wonderful years of marriage before Mearl passed away two years ago.

Lolita taught in elementary schools in Muncie, IN, Minneapolis, MN, and Cincinnati, OH, before starting a family. A stay-at-home Mom, Lolita served as an honored volunteer in the community for over 60 years. Activities at First Presbyterian Church include teacher, elder, Women’s Association, Maumee Valley Presbytery Ministerial Committee, and serving as a representative at the National Assembly. At Bowling Green Schools, Lolita was a Conneaut Room Mom and helped organize Jr. Hi Mothers of Bobkittens (MOB). Later, the Hospital Guild became a focus, and she served as co-buyer for the hospital gift shop. Her most recent passion was genealogy, with leadership roles at the county and state levels of the Ohio Genealogical Society, a governor’s appointment to the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission, and receiving a volunteerism award from the national Federation of Genealogical Societies. In 1988, Lolita was named Bowling Green Outstanding Citizen, and in 1996 received the Wood County Good Citizenship Award.

Lolita is survived by children Scott R. Guthrie, Bowling Green, and Carla A. (Sanner) Hall (Bill), Wooster, OH, one granddaughter, Julie (Sanner) Pooler (Jimmy), Wooster, OH, with twin great-grandchildren expected in February. She was preceded in death by her husband Mearl R. Guthrie and siblings Catherine (Basil) Fisher; Dorthy May (Richard) Donnelly; Harriet (Albert) Sexton; and Ira Lewis (Joyce) Thayer.

Friends will be received at Dunn Funeral Home on Thursday, November 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Dunn on Friday, November 20, at 10 a.m., with burial following at Sargent Cemetery, Powell Road in Liberty Township. A lunch will be served for friends and family immediately following in the fellowship hall of First Presbyterian Church, 126 S. Church St.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial contribution to the First Presbyterian Church or to the Ohio Genealogical Society. Condolences, fond memories and photos may be shared with the family at dunnfuneralhome.com.