Captain Billy (Bill) C. Matthews, USNR (Ret.), Age 89, passed on December 7, 2019 at Passages Hospice in New Orleans, La. He was born on 11-11-30 in Haskell Texas, the son of Charlie and Allie Matthews. After graduating from High School, he spent one year at Cisco Junior College before enrolling and graduating from North Texas State in Denton, Texas. On arriving home from graduation, he found his draft notice. He immediately went to Abeline, Texas and enlisted in the Navy. Upon completion of flight training and being commissioned as an Ensign, his first duty station was NAS North Island, assigned to VS-23 Squadron in Coronado, California. After a brief break in service and enrolling in Long Beach State college, Bill taught P.E. at Downy Junior High. His squadron was recalled to active duty in 1961. His love of flying kept him in the Navy. Bill served with VAW-11, NAS Glenview, Illinois, NAS Los Alamitos, OINC NARDET Seattle, Washington, Chief of Naval Reserve and then Commanding Officer of the Naval Reserve Support Activity New Orleans, where he retired in 1978. The next 14 years Bill, and his wife Jean, sold Real Estate on the West Bank of New Orleans. First with Hugh Humphrey and then with Latter and Blum. Here, Bill’s greatest pleasure came from assisting a young family with the purchase of their first home. Bill loved swimming, diving, and playing golf. He loved to “scare” people with his “special dives.” After retiring from real Estate, Bill continued to display his love of planes by designing and building model remote control planes. He used his “hobby earnings” to help send his wife, Jean, on the European trip of her dreams. Bill is survived by his wife, Jean (64 years), son Bob, daughters Cathy and Karen (Don, Jr.). Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Memorial Service on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 11am at Aurora Methodist Church, 3300 Eton St., Algiers, LA. A Memorial Visitation will be held Saturday morning from 10am until 11am. Interment, Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Magnolia Community Service, 100 Central Ave., Jefferson, La. 70121 where his daughter Cathy Jean Matthews is a resident. Family and friends can view and sign the online guest book at
www.mothefunerals.com
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