Guthrie Stuart Colpitts, 86, The Villages, FL, died on October 2, 2016 at The Villages Regional Hospital after complications from pneumonia.
Born on August 28, 1930 in Campton, NH, Gus was the son of Stephen S. Colpitts and Minnie L. Colpitts. He was a graduate of Plymouth High School and the University of New Hampshire class of 1952 as a social service major. Gus was married from ’52 until her death in ’00 to Dorothy Bolton Colpitts from Beebe River, NH. Gus had a long successful career in retail, with a true passion and talent for “running store.” For 14 years he managed stores for JJ Newberry throughout New England including Haverhill, MA, Manchester, NH, Clinton, MA, Littleton, NH, and Farmington, ME. In ’70 he left Newberry’s and bought his own Ben Franklin store in Madison, ME which he ran for 13 years. An entrepreneur at heart, he also opened a Hallmark store in Farmington, ME – Mickey’s Hallmark, along with a variety of other retail enterprises during that time. Always community-minded and highly respected for his remarkable intellect, integrity, quick wit and generous loving spirit, he became a civic leader in Farmington in the ’70s while serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce –
In ’78 Gus was asked to join the Board of Directors at Franklin Savings Bank and served as Chairman from ’92 to ’03. Upon retiring he was elected Director Emeritus recognizing his dedicated years of service to FSB. Gus married his new love Janet Phillips in 2002 and they shared their life together in The Villages, FL.
Surviving family members include his wife Janet, daughter, Deborah Ross and her husband Roderick of The Villages, FL; son, Jeri Colpitts and his partner, Rita Hamilton of Brooklyn, NY; two granddaughters, Joanne Tarantino with her partner Troy Harris of N. Chelmsford, MA ; Jill Pellerin and her husband, Brian of Reston, VA; and four great grandchildren – Nina, Benjamin, Alex, and Owen and many nieces and nephews. He loved his extended family which included four step-children, their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He is predeceased by his siblings, Priscilla O’Brien, Charles Colpitts and Dorothy Colpitts.
There will be a celebration of his life on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Paradise Recreation in the Rita Hayworth Room, The Villages FL at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Franklin Savings Bank Scholarship Fund in Guthrie Colpitts’ name. Donations may be made to Franklin Savings Bank PO Box 825, 198 Front Street, Farmington, ME 04938. Attention: Peter Judkins.
A graveside service at Fairview Cemetery will be held in Farmington, ME next summer.
