WKBN's Don Guthrie dead at 71

YOUNGSTOWN

WKBN is sad to announce that longtime Chief Meteorologist Don Guthrie died Sunday at the age of 71.

Donald Guthrie was a lifelong resident of the Mahoning Valley, born in Youngstown in 1943. He began his career in broadcasting at Mohawk High School in Bessemer, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1961.

Don worked at WKBN Radio in 1970 as a disc jockey and the FM Program Director.

In 1973, Don married his wife, Debbie. They have three children: Amanda, Kristy and David.

In 1980, he became a weatherman for WKBN’s Noon News and also assumed the role of Radio Production Director. Don then moved to forecasting the weather on WKBN 27 First News at 6:00 p.m and 11:00 p.m.

Don was an accredited member of both the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society.

In his free time, Don enjoyed playing golf and spending time with his wife and kids.

WKBN announced Guthrie’s diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in late May of 2014.

Since then, the outpouring of support for Guthrie has been overwhelming, with letters and notes coming in to the WKBN newsroom on a regular basis.