William Lee Matthews passed away on September 28, 2021, at the Colonial Manor in Columbus Junction, Iowa. He was 91. Services will be Saturday, October 16, 2021, at the Wapello United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. followed by burial services with Military Honors at the Wapello Cemetery. Online condolences may be left for the family at sandhfuneralservice.com.
Bill Matthews as born July 25, 1930, near Kingston, in Des Moines County, Iowa, the son of William Hiram Matthews and Mary Eldred (Faris) Matthews.
He grew up in Louisa County and graduated from Wapello High School in 1948. He then graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant in 1952, and was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Bill entered military service in 1952 serving with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, obtaining the lofty rank of Corporal. Bill graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1959, and joined the Hicklin Law Firm in Wapello.
William Matthews and Patricia Ann Williams were united in marriage on September 8, 1957. They were married for 60 years. She preceded him in death on October 15, 2017. Bill is survived by his son, David (Rebecca) Matthews, Wapello, Iowa; daughter, Elizabeth Ann Matthews, West Chester, Pennsylvania; and son, Robert Matthews, Kirksville, Missouri; six grandchildren, Danielle Buckley, Wilmington, Delaware; Alex Matthews, Wapello, Iowa; Andrew (Gesell) Buckley, Cramerton, N.C.; Lindsey (Chris) Giffrow, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Christopher Buckley, Charlotte, N.C.; and, Courtney Matthews, Waverly, Iowa; one great grandchild, Patrick Buckley, Cramerton, N.C.; and his three brothers, Bob of Wapello; and Gene and Evan, both of lowa City.
Besides his wife Pat, Bill was preceded in death by his parents, and four sisters-in-law, Joan, Insook, and Marilyn Matthews, and Joanne Schwob.
Bill resided in the same house in Wapello for 61 years, and walked to work everyday until he retired from the practice of law at age 85. He was a 50 year member of the Iowa Bar Association, a founding member of Indian Hills Golf & Country Club, now Heritage Oaks, a Thirty Second Degree Mason, and a member of Wapello Lodge No. 5 AF & AM, the American Legion, and the Wapello United Methodist Church.
Bill and Pat were devoted Iowa Hawkeye Football fans and season ticket holders for over 50 years. They rarely missed a home football game, even during the dark years of 17 straight non winning seasons, being rewarded with a trip to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in 1982.
Bill enjoyed his family, church, Friday afternoon “Lawyers” golf, Friday night bridge club, and the occasional Johnnie Walker.