Walter I. Matthews

Walter I. “Wally” Matthews, age 95, of Bellefontaine, Ohio passed away at 5:00 A.M. Friday, June 21, 2019 at Logan Acres Senior Community in Bellefontaine.

He was born in Bellefontaine November 15, 1923, a son of the late Acy Rush and Margaret Ellen (O’Connell) Matthews.  He was also preceded in death by three sisters and five brothers.

On May 17, 1946, he married Shirley Chiles and she preceded him in death July 26, 2005.

He is survived by his children, John (Laurie) Matthews of Bellefontaine, William Matthews of Washington, Pennsylvania, Linda Matthews of Rossford, Ohio, Sue Matthews Carman of Bellefontaine; ten grandchildren, Michelle (Todd) Schmicker, John (Alesha) Matthews, Lauren Matthews, Chris (Kelly) Leasure, Sumer Matthews, Mindy Matthews, Matthew (Christine) Moffitt, Charles Moffitt, William (Julie) Moffitt, Dustin (Monique Duly) Moffitt; sixteen great grandchildren; one great-great grandson and many nieces and nephews.

Wally worked as a machinist for New York Central and Erie Lackawanna railroads. He was a United States Navy Veteran serving during World War II, where he was stationed on the USS Bowers in the Pacific. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Harold Kerr #173 in Bellefontaine where he was a Past Commander, a lifetime member of the V.F.W. #1080 in Bellefontaine and belonged to the Eagles and Moose lodges in Bellefontaine.

In 2015, Wally was awarded the Veteran of the Year award in Logan County and served on the Logan County Veteran Honor Guard for many years.  He was also a member of the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bellefontaine.

Visitation will be held Monday June 24, 2019, from 4 to 8 P.M. at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Bellefontaine where a rosary service will be held at 7:30 P.M.

Father Shawn Landenwitch will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bellefontaine.  The Logan County Veteran Honor Guard will provide military honors.

Private burial will be at the Calvary Cemetery in Bellefontaine.

The arrangements are in the care of the staff of the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Bellefontaine.

K.VH.