Robert Mathews

Obituary for Bob Mathews Robert “Bob” Mathews, 89, passed away at Heartfelt Manor in Roswell, New Mexico on September 30, 2010. Bob was born in Graham, Texas; the seventh child of Thomas Edgar Mathews and his wife, Belle Cunningham. Bob graduated from Graham High School in 1938, where he was a member of the Graham High School football team. He attended Brantley Drawn Business College in Fort Worth, Texas prior to joining the Marine Corp on March 28, 1940. His basic training was in San Diego and his military service took him to Pearl Harbor where he was stationed aboard the battleship USS Pennsylvania. He was aboard ship when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He survived the attack with no injuries and was left with only the clothes on his back. His military service included participation at the invasion of Tarawa and two years in American Samoa. He was discharged from the Marine Corp on March 28, 1946 at Bremerton, Washington after six years of service. Bob married Barbara O’Connell of Ventura, California in 1942. They were the parents of three children. In 1970, Bob married Florine Hopkins in Hollywood, California. At that time, Bob worked for Getty Oil Company. He and Florine moved to Ventura, California until he retired in 1981. After a 16 month residence in Pottsboro, Texas, they moved to Roswell in 1982. Robert was an avid golfer and spent much of his retirement years playing golf at Spring River Golf Course. Bob is survived by his wife Florine; sons Stephen Thomas Matthews and his wife, Joanne, of Calgary Canada, and Timothy Lane Matthews and his wife, Laura, of Solvang, California; and a daughter Melissa Lu Alamillo of Bakersfield, California. He is also survived by four step-children, Michael Warren Hopkins of Guatemala; Mark Edward Hopkins and his wife, Sharon, of Carlsbad, New Mexico; Elizabeth Anne Puma and her husband, Bob, of Roswell, New Mexico; and Susan Gail Shadix and her husband, Bob, of Arlington, Texas. Survivors also include nineteen grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren. Graveside services will be at Oakgrove Cemetery in Graham, Texas. Arrangements are being made by Anderson-Bethany and Morrison Funeral Homes. SEMPER FI

Robert Mathews

October 25, 1920 - September 30, 2010