Dr. Charles C. Matthews, 81, of Springfield, died at 7:10 pm, Saturday, July 30, 2011 at Memorial Medical Center. He was born September 11, 1929 in Rural Bolivar, Missouri to Jesse and Carrie Lea Crain Matthews. He married Rosemarie Barnhouse on April 9, 1950 and she survives.
Also surviving are four daughters, Theresa (Thomas) Kruger of Dixon, IL, Pamela Lea (Don) Volland of Florence, KY, Candi (Charles) Campbell of Rochester and Kelly (Robert) Scott of Chatham; ten grandchildren, Jessica Kruger, Brian (Lindsey) Volland, Nick Kruger, Heather Volland, Carrie Campbell, Taylor Scott, Madeline Campbell, Kyle Scott, Ryan Scott and Hailey Campbell; one great granddaughter, Norah Volland and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
His parents and an infant sister preceded him in death.
Dr. Matthews was a U.S. Air Force Veteran serving from 1951-1955. He was a member of Springfield Southern Baptist Church, where joined in December of 1955. He taught Sunday School for over 50 years and was also a deacon, ordained in November of 1983. Charles was a lifelong Mason and was a member of various educational and veterans organizations and was a longtime Khoury league softball coach.
He graduated from Bolivar High School in Bolivar, MO, Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar and then received his Master’s in Education from the University of Illinois. In 1970, Charles was conferred with his PhD in education from the University of Illinois. He first taught at Cooper School, a one room school house in Bolivar. In 1955 he began working for Springfield School District 186 and retired in 1989 after serving in various teaching and administrative roles. After retirement he worked as a consultant for Ball Chatham School District.
Visitation: 4-7 pm, Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at Staab Funeral Home with a Masonic Service at 6:45 pm.
Lie-in-State: 9-10 am, Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at Springfield Southern Baptist Church
Funeral Service: 10 am, Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at Springfield Southern Baptist Church with Pastor Mike Keppler officiating.
Burial will be in Chatham Memorial Cemetery where Sangamon County Interveterans Burial Detail will conduct military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to Springfield Southern Baptist Church.
Staab Funeral Home - Springfield
Concordia Lutheran Church
Address:
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Concordia Lutheran Church
Address:
a:4:{s:8:"address1";s:18:"2300 Wilshire Road";s:4:"city";s:11:"Springfield";s:5:"state";s:2:"IL";s:11:"postal_code";s:5:"62703";}
Richard Crain posted on 8/9/11
I wish to express my deepest sympathy for you loss. But remember that your loss is heaven's gain. It has been many years since we have been together, but I have many precious memories of the family visits in Missouri. God bless. Richard Crain