Delora Johnson Guthke

Delora Johnson Guthke, 105, of Charleston, South Carolina, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 1, 2026. She was the widow of Ret. Chief Wilmot E. Guthke of the Charleston Fire Department. She supported her husband throughout his 44 years of service for the City of Charleston. They were married for 59 wonderful years.

Delora was born December 26, 1920, in Charleston, South Carolina, daughter of the late James Hager Johnson and Victoria Hay Johnson. She graduated from Murray High School where she met her husband Wilmot. After high school she attended Rice Business College. She worked as Secretary and Bookkeeper for the Charleston Presbytery for 6 years followed by 6 years of service to her lifelong church, Citadel Square Baptist Church in a similar position. She raised her children in the same house she grew up in on Sans Souci Street after her parents moved to Mount Pleasant.

At Citadel Square she taught Juniors in Sunday School and worked with the Girl’s Auxiliary. She served as a member of their Christmas Decoration Committee, as Secretary of the Revival Committee, and ad hoc committee for re-decorating the church sanctuary. She was also active in the Women’s Missionary Union, Church History Committee, and served as a member of the Citadel Square Christian School Board. Later in retirement she was a volunteer Receptionist for Citadel Square.

Delora volunteered to help fundraise for The March of Dimes for over 30 years, Carolina Children’s Charity, Heart Fund, and American Cancer Society. Her love of music and the arts led her to volunteer for the Charleston Symphony Designer House. Another love was her garden and camellias. Through this she and her husband became members of the Coastal Carolina Camellia Society and Charleston Garden Club for many years. While her husband served in the Charleston Civitan Club, she served in the Charleston Civitan Auxiliary and was a past President.

She is survived by her son-in-law, Ted W. Jones; granddaughter, companion, and caregiver, Julia D. Jones; grandchildren, Earl Guthke, Robbie Guthke, Ryan Guthke (Stephanie), and Brandi Clark (Patrick); 8 great grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Delora was preceded in death by her husband, Chief W. E. Guthke; daughter, Nancy Guthke Jones; son, Bill Guthke; and sisters, Georgeanna Albers (Paul) and June Gilbert (Robert).

Her Funeral Service will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at Citadel Square Baptist Church at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Downtown Chapel.

Memorial donations can be made in Delora's memory to Citadel Square Baptist Church or Water Mission.