Matthews

William B. Matthews Jr., longtime Pendleton resident, was born on October 18, 1930, in Salem, Illinois, to parents William B. Matthews Sr. and Fern Matthews. Bill died on March 26, 2015, in Aurora, Illinois, at the age of 84 years after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

Bill was raised and attended school in Salem, Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1950 and served for ten years on both ships and submarines. During his enlistment he met and married Merle Helen Hartley on December 27, 1958. After he was honorably discharged, he remained in San Diego, California, where he was employed with the telephone company. After several years, Bill took a transfer with the telephone company and came to Pendleton in 1971, where he worked until his retirement.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 47 years, Merle Helen Matthews.

He is survived by son Brent Matthews and his wife Lois of San Jose, California, and son Michael Matthews and wife Olga of Aurora, Illinois, and his grandchildren Nicholas, Kate and Sophia. Bill is also survived by his sisters Ann O’Leary of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Vera Graham of Naples, Florida, and his brother, James Matthews of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

A funeral service will be held at Pendleton Baptist Church on Friday, April 3, 2015, at 10:00 a.m., with a burial following at Olney Cemetery.

Pioneer Chapel (Folsom-Bishop) of Pendleton, Oregon, is in charge of arrangements.