Friday, November 23rd, 2012
Robert Matthews
Robert Eugene Matthews Sr. 94, Greenville, died Nov. 20, 2012, at Hospice of Dayton.
He was born March 23, 1918, to Roy Eugene and Mary Agnes Hart Matthews in Buck's Corner, Darke County. On June 22, 1940, he married Onda Fae Hopper, who is deceased.
Surviving are a daughter, Shirley (Fred) Hoff; a son, Robert Eugene Matthews Jr.; a daughter-in-law, Beverly Grooms Matthews; a sister-in-law, Florine Martin Matthews; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Also deceased are a son, Larry Ray Matthews; a son-in-law, Milton Dale Aldridge; and siblings, Ralph Leroy (Lucille) Matthews, Kenneth Harold Matthews, Cecil Eldon Matthews, Ruth Irene and Lee Engle, Estella Pauline Chester Greer, Mildred Gertrude and Gerald Pearson and Edith Olive and Robert Martin.
He retired as a tool and die maker with NCR and General Motors and was an active officer with the National Campers and Hikers Association. He managed grand stand admissions for 34 years at the Darke County Fairgrounds and was named grand marshall of the 2011 Great Darke County Fair Parade.
He attended Fort Jefferson United Methodist Church and belonged to Greenville Masonic Lodge 143, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Dayton, where he was a 32nd Degree Mason. He also was a member of Antioch Shrine, Dayton, and the Darke County Shrine Club.
Funeral services are 10 a.m. Saturday at Zechar-Bailey Funeral Home, Greenville, Rev. Hershel Fee officiant. Burial will follow at Greenville Township Memorial Gardens, Darke County.
Calling is 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, with a Masonic Memorial Service conducted by Greenville Masonic Lodge at 7:45 p.m. and a Scottish Rite Ring Service.
Memorials may be given to the church or the Darke County Shrine Club.
Condolences may be left at www.zecharbailey.com.
