Hugh Gunthorpe Jr.

Hugh Earl "Sonny" Gunthorpe Jr., 80, of Belmont, formerly of Charlotte, passed away, July 16, 2012, at Huntersville Oaks Rehabilitation Center, Huntersville, following a brief illness. He was born November 10, 1931 in Mecklenburg County, son of the late Hugh Earl Gunthorpe Sr. and Annie Mae Simpson Gunthorpe. Sonny graduated from Berryhill High School in Charlotte, in 1950, where he was an all-star baseball and basketball player. In recent years, Sonny met every third Friday with other Berryhill High School alumni for breakfast. He began his machinist career at age 14 and continued to work in this industry for a lifetime. He started at Collins Machine Company and then moved on to Freeze Machine Company. In 1985, Sonny left Freeze and opened his own business, Industrial and Compressor Machine (ICM) shop in Charlotte. He worked there for the next 27 years until his illness took him away, never retiring even at the age of 80. A graveside service will be held, at Noon on Friday at Forest Lawn West Cemetery, Charlotte, officiated by Rev. Joe Denson. The family will receive friends 10-11:30 am prior to the service on Friday at Forest Lawn West Funeral Home, Charlotte. He is survived by: his sons and daughters in-law, Douglas and Amy Gunthorpe of Statesville, Jerry and Chirley Gunthorpe of Charlotte, Johnny and Sandra Gunthorpe of Charlotte; grandchildren, Kate Gunthorpe, Laci Gunthorpe, Sonny Sky Gunthorpe, Annie Gunthorpe, Collin Gunthorpe; sister, Betty Jean Swanquist of Belmont, former spouse, Tency Collins Gunthorpe of Charlotte; brothers in-law, Rudy Collins of Charlotte, Douglas Collins of Myrtle Beach, SC; a host of loyal ICM employees and friends. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by: a daughter, Francis Kay Gunthorpe; brother Robert Jerry Gunthorpe. Memorials may be made by mail to Holy Angels, 6600 Wilkinson Blvd., Belmont, NC 28012 or online @ www.holyangelsnc.org. Arrangements are with the South Chapel of Greene Funeral Service and Crematorium, Gastonia A guest registry is available online at www.greenefuneral.com