Carmen Anthony Gutta, Sr., 88, of Morgantown, passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. He was born July 15, 1934, a son of the late Frank and Maria Angela Romeo Gutta. Carmen Sr. was the youngest of eight siblings.
His parents and his two eldest siblings immigrated to the United States from Southern Italy, and those deep Italian roots became the foundation upon which he built a remarkable life and family. In his early years, Carmen Sr. was a successful real estate developer and builder in and around the surrounding Morgantown area, with projects that include the Hampton Center Office Park and the Cedar Ridge and Cedar Wood subdivisions, to name a few.
In his later years, the game of golf became his passion (and greatest frustration) but no matter how good or bad the shot, he loved every round he played with his two sons, who were his pride and joy. Carmen Sr. grew up on the Gutta Family farm. He had a green thumb and work ethic that persisted throughout his daily life. His garden was a testament to his dedication and appreciation for all things beautiful. His bountiful harvests of figs, tomatoes, and hot peppers were always generously shared with family, friends, and neighbors. His garden was a symbol of the love and care he poured into everything he did.
When he wasn’t tending to the garden or golfing, Carmen Sr. could be found down at the warehouse working on his various projects or preparing the pizza oven for the next family cookout. Carmen Sr.’s greatest achievement was the family that he and his beloved wife, Marie, created together. Their love was a source of inspiration to all who knew them, and it served as a shining example of what it means to be truly devoted to one another. Carmen and Marie had many adventures over their 66 years of marriage, and on a beautiful day you could always find them reminiscing on the back patio over coffee.
Carmen Sr. is survived by his loving wife, Agnes Marie Dawson; two sons, Carmen Gutta Jr. (Karen), Scott Gutta (Shelley); six grandchildren, Kayla Gutta Cook (Zach), Lindsay Gutta Reed (Zach), Carmen A. Gutta III, Taylor Gutta Stark (Luke), Bradley Gutta, and Caitlin Gutta; and six great-grandchildren, Landon Cook, Peyton Cook, Camryn Cook, Tripp Reed, Rhett Reed, and Wyatt Stark, all of whom knew him as “Papa” or “Papa-Papa.”
In addition to his parents, Carmen Sr. was preceded in death by his infant son, Stephen Gutta; and siblings, John B. Gutta Sr., Paul J. Gutta, Frank A. Gutta Jr., Rose Gutta, Elena “Helen” Gutta Belldina, Rena Gutta Zaccagnini, and Edna Mary Gutta Palumbo.
Friends and family will be received at St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church, 1 Guthrie Lane, Morgantown, from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Visitation will continue at the church on Thursday, Nov. 30, from 11 a.m. until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at noon with Msgr. Anthony Cincinnati, STD as celebrant. Interment will follow at Lawnwood Cemetery in Morgantown.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Carmen Gutta Sr., to United Way Helpful Harvest Program, 278C Spruce Street, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505.
Condolences:
hastingsfuneralhome.com
