Walter Franklin Matthews

Mr. Walter F. “Walt” Matthews, age 84, passed away on April 13, 2011. Funeral services will be held at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Rd., Columbus, GA on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 3:00 PM with Rev. John Burnett and Dr. Kevin Calhoun officiating. Entombment will be held at Parkhill Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Mr. Matthews was born on December 30, 1926 in Columbus, GA to the late Chester Doyle and Eula Bell Herrington Matthews. He served in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theatre of World War II aboard the U.S.S. Chicago CA136 and also during the Korean Conflict aboard the U.S.S. Columbus CA74. Mr. Matthews was a member of the U.S.S. Chicago Reunion Club CA136. He was a member of Hilton Terrace Baptist Church. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Hazel Bridges and Ruth Griffin as well as two brothers, Doyle and Howard Matthews.

Walt was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who will be truly missed.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Jeannette Matthews of Columbus; four children, Earl and Regina Matthews of Ellerslie, GA, Tommy Matthews of Phenix City, AL, Brenda and Dale Vasquez of Harris County and Susan and David Emmert of Columbus; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren as well as a brother, Jimmy and Alma Matthews of Freemont City, IL.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 1639 Bradley Park Dr., Columbus, Georgia 31904.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of St. Francis Hospital as well as Columbus Regional Medical Center for their care and support and a special thank you to Dr. Christopher Thompson.