Paul Carlton Mathews

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Carlton Mathews USAF (Ret.) of Montgomery, AL, passed into Heaven on Friday, July 20, 2018. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at 11:00am in the Westminster Room at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1728 S. Hull St. Montgomery, AL, 36104 followed by a Memorial Service at noon in the sanctuary with Rev. Claude McRoberts officiating.

Colonel Mathews was born in Palatka, Florida, on February 15, 1933, to Carlton Joseph Mathews and Leah Garbett Mathews. In his early years, he was active in the First Baptist Church of Palatka as well as the Boy Scouts of America, where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. In 1955, he graduated from The Citadel in Charleston, SC, and in 1968, he acquired his Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling. Colonel Mathews was a combat veteran of Southeast Asia, flying numerous special operations missions in helicopters for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. Upon retiring from the Air Force, Colonel Mathews served Baylor University as an academic advisor, pilot, and admissions counselor. He retired from Baylor and then completed a third career as a counselor at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas. He was an active member of Trinity Presbyterian Church where he served as a Ruling Elder.

Preceding Colonel Mathews in death are his first wife, Dottie; parents, Carlton and Leah Mathews; and his brother Richard. Survivors include his wife Margaret Harbor Gracey Mathews; his daughter Beth Beckwith (Paul) of Sydney, Australia; and his sister, Leah Fontaine (Joe) of Bear Valley Springs, California. Extended family include Sally Byrd (Chuck), Ann Gillespie (Dean), and Sarah Hillyer (Josh and children Harbor and Zelda). Paul will be missed by his family and many loving friends. Memorials may be made to The Citadel, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409 or to Trinity Presbyterian Church.