Jack Lester Matthews, 88, of Huntsville, passed away Tuesday. He was born in Altoona, PA to Frank Lester and Dorothy Elizabeth Vipond Matthews, and he had one sister, the late Betty Louise Norris. He is survived by his wife, Betty Catherine Beeler Matthews; grandson, James Justin Matthews; great-granddaughter, Scarlett; nieces, Deb Roesch and Sue Mulhollem; and nephew, William Norris. He was preceded in death by his son, James Mark Matthews.
Jack attended Altoona High School, Penn State University, and the University of Alabama, primarily majoring in Physics and Engineering. He served during the Korean War in the US Air Force, during which he flew single engine aircrafts. He served as a civilian Logistics Engineer at the US Army Missile Command from 1957 until retirement in 1988. Although assigned to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama throughout his career, he made countless business trips worldwide, including the US, United Kingdom, Europe, the Pacific, Alaska, Panama, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Jack received many high-level awards while employed by the US Army Missile Command, including The Award for Meritorious Services presented by a four-star general. He also was self employed at a cattle ranch/farm in Marshall County, Tennessee for 24 years, where he raised beef cattle and bred/trained/rode/sold horses and grew tobacco and hay. With no farming capability, he learned on-the-job the craft of caring for animals and acreage.
He was married Betty Catherine Beeler Matthews at Holmes Street United Methodist Church on September 6, 1958. Betty was the love of his life for 63 years, and they travelled extensively in the US, UK, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Europe, Central and South America, Mexico, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Russia, Scandinavia, and Israel. Their Christian affiliations have been primarily United Methodist, currently at Latham UMC. Jack taught several large Sunday school classes, and had affiliations in the Taize Services and the Life Tree Café Ministry. At the Tennessee farm, he experienced Christian apparitions and locutions over a period of seven years at a self-constructed Grotto of Prayer that was visited by an estimated 2,5000 persons in the 1990’s. He wrote and published a two-part book which is a record of these experiences. He also authored and published a book of poetry: Potpourri, An Occidental Odyssey; and he privately wrote and published seven Christian books of various titles. He wrote numerous poems and literature over the years, and he was featured in: Poetry’s Elite, The Best Poets of 2000. Throughout his marriage to Betty, he was loved, inspired, motivated, and supported by her always and in all ways. The only One superior to his wife and won was unreservedly and exclusively his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to Whom Jack strove to serve, worship and love to the best of his ability and with sincerity. His gratitude to God is for His Mercy, Salvation, Love and Blessings.
Visitation will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday, December 20 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Comfort Care Hospice.
