Born in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 15, 1952, Carlton was raised in the Tarrytown section of Gary, Indiana. He attended Alain L. Locke Elementary (now McCullough), Horace Mann Middle and High School, and Edison High School before graduating in 1970 in the first class from West Side High School. At West Side, Carlton was the valedictorian and the president of his senior class, as well as a passionate multi-sport varsity athlete in basketball, baseball, football, and golf.

He took his brilliant mind and athletic drive to Harvard College, graduating cum laude with a B.A. in Urban Economics in 1974. He returned to Harvard Business School, earning his MBA in General Management and Finance in 1978.

Carlton's career began as a credit analyst at Philadelphia National Bank and in sales at Procter & Gamble, where he was named District Salesman of the Year. Following business school, he excelled as a senior management consultant at McKinsey & Company and later served as Executive Vice President and COO of James H. Lowry & Associates in Chicago.

In 1985, Carlton embarked on his path of pioneering entrepreneurship, partnering with his brother, Michael Guthrie. Together, they acquired Uptilt Tool & Die with Uptilt, Inc and merged them into Trumark, Inc, an automotive metal stamping and assembly company in Lansing, Michigan, where Carlton served as Chairman, President, and CEO until its successful sale in 2001.

In Detroit, the brothers went on to establish SPECTRA LMP LLC, a major automotive holding company. Through Spectra, they co-owned and led Detroit Chassis LLC, a premier assembler of RV and commercial truck chassis; Detroit Custom Chassis; and Detroit Chassis Avon. Carlton partnered with his brother over the years to lead several other companies including HealthCure LLC, a firm dedicated to infectious disease prevention in health facilities, Trumark Steel LLC in Temperance, MI, Trumark Metal Fabrication LLC in Warren, MI and Magnys Engineering LLC in Novi, MI. He also served as the chair of the National Association of Black Suppliers.  Together,  the Guthrie brothers built a powerful legacy as leading Black executives in the American automotive supply industry.

While Carlton achieved great success in the business world, his heart was always in giving back. He founded the Gary Alumni Pathway to Students (GAPS), bringing together West Side High School alumni and partners to reconnect with and mentor local students.

Through the Guthrie Family Scholarship (GFS) and the Guthrie Family Collective, Carlton and his family provided thousands of dollars in annual scholarships, alongside career guidance and mentoring, to graduating high school seniors of African American descent. He also founded and chaired the Single Parent Family Institute in Lansing, MI, and served on the boards of Concerned Christian Men in Chicago and the Joyce Foundation.

Carlton accepted Christ at an early age at the New Revelation Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana, where his father was a Deacon and his mother was Minister of Music. The Guthrie children participated in many ministries in their family church.  The investment of Carlton’s parents and New Revelation in his spiritual development was pivotal. He later joined Trinity United Church of Christ where he served in several board positions. Carlton’s faith sustained him throughout his life, especially during the challenges of his illness.

On his journey, Carlton was guided by what he called  "The 4G’s":  

God, Goals, Guidance and Guts.

Carlton is survived by his beloved wife of many years, Dawn-Marie of Roxbury, Massachusetts—a chef, foodie, and caterer who brought endless joy and culinary delight to their lives.

He was an incredibly proud father to his daughter, Carille Guthrie and his son, Adam Guthrie (Erin), from his marriage to Dr. Danille Taylor. He was the doting grandfather to Miles and Noelle, who will grow up knowing the profound strength and warmth of their grandfather.

He also leaves behind his devoted siblings—including his brother and business partner Michael (Valorie), brother Joseph (Glenda), and sisters Dr. Sheryl Lucas Giles (John) and Cynthia Johnson (Ronnie), stepmother Mildred Guthrie, and stepbrothers Lonnie Jones, Jr, Richard Jones and Damien Lee,  mother-in-law, Patricia Carrington, brothers-in-law Richard Francis and Jonathan Irving,  uncle Horace Ragsdale Lyons along with a large, loving network of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends in Georgia, the Chicago area, and across the country.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Mary Guthrie, and his grandparents.