John Foster Matthews

John Matthews, 94, passed away on December 16, 2017 in Austin, TX. John was born on September 19, 1923 in Austin, TX to John Tillman Matthews and Pearl Mary Foster Matthews. He graduated from S. F. Austin High School in 1943.

John was a great man and a loving father. He married Joanne Louise Meurer Matthews on April 22, 1954. John was a social, active man who was deeply involved in the community. He was in the US Army and his military rank was a Corporal and he fought in WWII as an Army Veteran Anti-tank Gun Crewman; 648th Tank Destroyer, two bronze stars, Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Service Bars; WWII Victory Medal. He also served 30 years with Austin Fire Dept. He started his career as a fireman and ended his career as a Captain in Fire Prevention. His Catholic faith was very important to him, he was the head usher at St. Austin’s Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Knights and Top Fund Raiser for K of C. He was a member of Knights of Columbus and AFD Retiree Breakfast Club. He also volunteer as a Little League Coach and Boy Scout Leader Troop #34.

John was a coach, mentor and a role model for children to lead productive lives and team building. When John was not coaching, he was playing. He was a member of Austin Park and Recreation Softball Teams, and he played until he was 84 years old. His family and friends will always remember him as always socializing with the neighbors and friends, walking, coin collecting, and his road trips with his family, and his love for slots machines (fighting the one arm bandit). He was an avid UT sports fan: football, baseball, softball and volleyball. And most of all, his Saturday night dinners at El Patio.

He is predeceased by his parents John & Pearl Matthews, his beloved wife Joanne Louise Matthews, his daughters JoEllen Cope and Janis Matthews. His five sisters and four brothers.

John is survived by his children: John, wife Patricia; Joe, Jeffery; Jo Anita, husband Matthew Dreasher; Grandchildren: Jason, wife Mindi; Nathan, wife Nicole; Benjamin, Dana, Robert; Laura, husband Dustin; and Alexandrea. Eleven Great-Grandchildren.

Special thanks to St. Austin’s Church, Knight of Columbus, Austin Fire Department/Retirees, and his many special friends and family.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 5:00-7:00 PM in the evening, Thursday, the 21st of December 2017 at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin TX 78752. Rosary will recite at 7:00 pm.

A Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Friday, the 22nd of December 2017, at St. Austin’s Catholic Church, 2026 Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas 78705. Interment will follow at 2:30 PM in Assumption Cemetery under the direction of Cook-Walden Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donation in memory of John Matthews to St. Austin’s Catholic Church, 2026 Guadalupe Austin, TX 78705.

Condolences be made to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.