Frank Guthrie

Frank D. Guthrie, Sr.
Krispy Kreme

Augusta, GA – Entered into rest Friday, July 16, 2010, Mr. Frank D. Guthrie, Sr., 95, husband of Mary Louise J. Guthrie.

Frank was a life long resident of Richmond County and Augusta, GA. His family came here from Stromness in the Orkney Islands, Scotland in 1774. He was christened in the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in 1914. Frank later attended Curtis Baptist Church with his first wife Lerline and more recently St. Marks Methodist Church with Mary Louise. During his illness he has been ministered to by Father Daniel McAughey of St. Luke’s Anglican Catholic Church. He was a Mason and a member of Webb Lodge. He was also a member of the Savannah River Power Squadron.

Frank first worked for the Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation in Richmond, VA in 1938. A friend from the CCC camp in Greenville, Alabama talked him into coming to Richmond that year. In 1939 he worked at the original Krispy Kreme Store in Winston Salem, NC. After the war, he and Malcolm Smith opened a doughnut store on 13th Street in Augusta under the name Golden Crème Doughnuts with Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation’s knowledge that they were using the original Krispy Kreme formula. Krispy Kreme indicated he would be approached when they were ready to franchise. In August 1949 he became the first Krispy Kreme franchisee. Malcolm Smith returned to his home in Oregon in 1947. Frank was then joined by his brother Ernest in the business and in 1953 Ernest sold his interest back to Frank. Frank went on to open multiple stores in the Augusta area and in 1981 joined with 25 other investors and purchased the Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation from Beatrice Foods. In 2000 he participated in the public offering of Krispy Kreme.

Other family members include his son: Frank Ellis Guthrie (Linda); stepson: Marion G. Jennings, Jr.; stepdaughter: Mary Beth Bowdoin (Mel); grandchildren: Frank Walton Guthrie (Mischelle), Sharon Guthrie Bowles (Kevin), Brian Shepherd; step-grandchildren: Donna McIntosh (Joey), Glenn Hamilton, Teresa Johnson (Larry), John A. Jennings, Leslie Dailey (Mark), Kim Johnson (Robbie); and 17 great grandchildren.
Mr. Guthrie was preceded in death by his first wife Lerline Ellis Guthrie and his parents Frank Walton and Lilly Mae Guthrie.

The family would like to express a special thank you to “Maid your Day” for all their loving care and to Nicole, the hospice nurse.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. in the chapel of Thomas Poteet & Son with Father Daniel McAughey officiating. Interment will follow at Westover Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Brian Shepherd, Joseph Cawley, Ernest Guthrie, Judson Rawls, Walton Guthrie and Kevin Bowles.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Anglican Catholic Church, 3081 Wheeler Road, Augusta,GA 30909.

The family will receive friends Monday, July 19, 2010 from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com