Benjamin Joseph Matthews 1913-2008

MATTHEWS, HAMER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/2/2008 at 00:45:42

Sioux City Journal
8 April 2008

Benjamin J. Matthews
Tuesday, April 08, 2008

PISGAH, Iowa -- Benjamin Joseph Matthews, 94, of Pisgah died Friday, April 4, 2008, at Burgess Health Center in Onawa, Iowa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. today at Pisgah United Methodist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine, Iowa.

Ben married Cecile Hamer on June 2, 1935, in Onawa, Iowa. The couple lived many years in Pisgah and raised their family there. He worked for his uncle as a carpenter for fifty cents an hour. During World War II, he worked at a bomber plant. He even worked on the Enola Gay. After the war, he worked as a carpenter on his own and built many houses in the area.
He was very proud of the couple's 10-year tenure at the Omaha Home for Boys as house parents and being a positive influence in their lives of underprivileged and/or abused children. Several of these boys, now in the 40s, continue to keep in touch with them.

He is survived by his wife, Cecile Matthews of Onawa, Iowa; daughters, Benita (Russell) Davis of Onawa and Marcia (John) Kriskey of Plattsmouth, Neb.; a son, Roger (Nancy) Matthews of Mason, Ohio; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; a sister, Esther Enders of Watertown, S.D.; a brother, Albert Matthews of Sun City, Calif.; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son; three brothers, Stanley, Vern and John Matthews; and a sister, Alyce McCall.