John Carroll Matthews

On Saturday, October 1, John Carroll Matthews, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away at 88 years old.  Born in Galax, VA on December 25, 1933, to Thomas Jefferson and Zell Elizabeth Matthews, he graduated from Galax High School where he was very active in both academic and athletic activities.  He attended Appalachian Teachers College where he earned a degree in business administration in 1959.  John served in the U.S. Army with the Third Armored Division in Europe from 1957-1958.  While in the Army, he played football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and volleyball.  While at Appalachian, he played football under Coach E.C. Duggins and baseball and basketball under Coach Bob Broome and he also ran track.  He lettered in all four sports.  John was also on the Flying Fish Team and played on the first volleyball team coached by Roger (Doc) Thomas.  After they finished college, John and Freida moved to North Wilkesboro where John had a 44-year career with Carolina Mirror Company, serving as the VP of Industrial Sales.  After retirement, John worked as a consultant for Gardner Mirror Company for two years.  Earlier this year, John and Freida celebrated 65 years of marriage.

John was active in local civic and church organizations:  administrative board of the North Wilkesboro First United Methodist Church where he also served as Head Usher, was active in his Sunday School class, and he and Freida led the MYF Youth Group; charter member and president (twice) of the North Wilkesboro Club of Rotary International where he was recently Rotary Citizen of the Year and he volunteered for many community events, most notably, the Rotary District 7680 Flight of Honor for a local WWII Veteran; local Parent Teachers Association; chairman of the National Cancer Society of Wilkes County; advisory board of Wilkes Central High School and served on the Booster Club; chairman of the Board of Directors of First Citizens Bank; president of Oakwood Country Club; and served as a basketball coach for the YMCA for eight years.  He also served on the Appalachian Alumni Council and continued to serve until his death, served as president of the Alumni Association, and was active in the formation of the Appalachian Former Athletes Association and its Athletic Hall of Fame.  He loved Appalachian State and was instrumental in many young people gaining admittance to his alma mater.  After his retirement, John volunteered and worked for the Rainbow Center Children & Family Services where he was Campaign Chair and raised money to help serve many Wilkes County children.

Known to all by many titles – John, Johnny, Dad, Opa – John was a light to everyone who met him.  He enjoyed hiking every Wednesday with his hiking club and he loved to play golf with his friends.  In the fall, you would find him cheering on his beloved Mountaineer football team to many victories over the years.  John made a difference in the lives of everyone who knew him and no one ever left him without a smile on their face.  He always liked to say, “no matter how happy you are, keep on smiling!”  When you were around him and his infectious humor, there was no doubt your troubles would be forgotten.  His greatest joy in life was his family, especially his six grandchildren, all of whom loved being at their Oma and Opa’s house as much as possible.

John is survived by his wife, Freida Fay Felts Matthews; his oldest son, Jason Charles Matthews (Summerville, SC) and his wife, Ruth Ann Matthews, and children, John Wesley Matthews (Braselton, GA), Meredith Katherine Matthews (Summerville, SC), Liam Wesley Hoover (Macon, GA), and J.C. Wiles Matthews (Summerville, SC); and his youngest son, Justin Jefferson Matthews (West Jefferson, NC) and his wife, Johnna Richardson Matthews, and children, Jackson Lynch Matthews (West Jefferson, NC) and Jillian Day Matthews (Boone, NC).  He is also survived by his sister, Margaret Christine Thomason (Galax, VA), and many beloved nieces and nephews.  John was preceded in death by his parents and four of his six siblings, Billy Matthews, Robert Matthews, Thomas Matthews, Elizabeth Ann Matthews, and Mary Jane D'Armi.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 15 at 11:00am at the First United Methodist Church of North Wilkesboro with Rev. Jim Sanders officiating.  The family will receive friends Friday, October 14 from 6:00 – 8:00pm at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Mountlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of North Wilkesboro (www.firstnw.org), P.O. Box 1145, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659; The Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 264, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659; Appalachian State University (www.give.appstate.edu), ASU Box 32014, Boone, NC 28608-2014; or Yadkin River Greenway, 717 W. Main Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

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