CAMDEN — Mary Virginia Roebuck Guthrie,

a long-time Camden, Ark., resident, died in El Dorado, Ark., on March 29, 2024, at the age of 99. Virginia was the third child of five, born to Fred G. and Blanche S. Roebuck, on January 15, 1925. As the daughter of a Methodist preacher, she grew up in several Arkansas towns: Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Bearden, and Prescott. She graduated from Little Rock High School, now Central High School. Virginia met James Guthrie as a child, when the Roebucks lived in Prescott. They met again when she was at Hendrix College, and James was in medical school. They married on March 28, 1945, and remained so for 68 years, until James died in 2013. While her husband was overseas with the Navy during World War II, Virginia finished her degree at Hendrix. When James returned after his service, the couple moved to Texarkana, Ark., where he joined a medical clinic and their two sons, James and David, were born. In 1948, they moved to Camden, Ark., where their two daughters, Anne and Sarah, were born. In Camden Virginia and James established a long and prosperous life for their family. Virginia was a troop leader in her children’s Boy Scout and Girl Scout dens. She was also an active member of the Junior Auxiliary, the New Century Club, and First United Methodist Church. Over the years, Virginia and Jim delighted in taking trips to Paris, Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Greece, and the Netherlands, as well as various locales in Canada, Central America, and the United States. With Peace Links, she went to Moscow, Russia, with Betty Bumpers. When daughter, Sarah, and her husband, moved to Scotland, Virginia loved to babysit her grandchildren in Aberdeen. Virginia and Jim loved traveling and collecting antiques from estate sales, auctions and antique stores. They enjoyed touring museums and art galleries, frequented the opera and were members of the Arkansas Symphony, the South Arkansas Symphony, and the Arkansas Arts Center. She held all things Hendrix College and First Methodist close to her heart. Virginia loved singing and playing the piano, beginning with church services conducted by her father. In addition to singing in the choir and playing handbells at Camden’s First Methodist Church, it would not be surprising to find her at the grand piano in the living room, playing her favorite tunes from her many songbooks. She also had a keen sense of civic responsibility, long working with the League of Women Voters and sending her husband, sons, and grandson overseas for military service in times of war. She was sweet, thoughtful, generous, and loved parties and social events. Even with the ravages of old age, she maintained her social graces and pleasantness.

Virginia is survived by her brother, Lewis T. Roebuck, Paris Valley, Ariz.; four children: James M. Guthrie, Ocean Springs, Miss.; David F. Guthrie (Mary), El Dorado, Ark.; Anne Guthrie (Michael Preble), Harahan, La., and Sarah Elliott, Houston, Texas; nine grandchildren: Adam Guthrie, Shelby Brannan, Hannah Rutledge, Elizabeth Hudson, Kathryn Murdock, Anna Elliott, Drew Guthrie, Alison Guthrie and Elise Guthrie; eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. James Guthrie; her parents, Fred and Blanche Roebuck; her two brothers: Fred Roebuck and Daniel Roebuck; and her sister, Doris Hansen. Special thanks go to her caregivers in Camden, Fox Ridge Memory Care, Hudson Memorial Nursing Home, and Arkansas Hospice. A memorial service for Virginia R. Guthrie will be held at First United Methodist Church, 121 Harrison Street, Camden, Ark., on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at 2 p.m. Proctor Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to Hendrix College, Conway, Ark., the First United Methodist Church of Camden, Ark., or the charity of choice. To sign the online guest register, visit: www.proctorfuneralhome.com.