George E. Matthews

George Elwood Matthews was born on December 20, 1933 in Seaford, Delaware. The youngest of 4 children, "Elwood", as he was affectionately called by his siblings and extended family, and "Papa George" to his grandchildren, had a love for family and the simple things in life. Upon leaving Seaford Delaware as a teenager, he attended Hampton University where he met his wife of 58 years, Juanita Matthews. He graduated from Hampton with a BS in Agriculture and later a Masters Degree in Political Science from Sul Ross State University. He was a career military serviceman in the US Army where he served in Viet Nam. He retired as a Lt. Colonel and enjoyed a successful, second career as a manager with the Social Security Administration in El Paso, TX. He was a Mason and a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Always the country boy at heart, he grew green onions, figs, plums, peaches and tomatoes along with an array of beautiful flowers and plants in the backyard of his hot, arid, desert home in El Paso, TX. Spending sun-up until sundown working in the yard every Saturday in an old straw hat, raggedy jeans, a white undershirt and shirt, the Matthews' lawn was always the envy of the block. A lover of photography, he could always be found at family events taking candid shots of anyone in focus. Intellectual, calm, and collected in any situation, he enjoyed discussing politics and all types of history, especially family history, investing 15+ years researching his own. He could fix anything with his hands, loved technology, and always had some new gadget he'd set up to control lights, sprinkler systems, alarms etc. that we had no idea how to operate. Perhaps his greatest talent, however, as the father of three girls, was scaring off boys with his emotionless gaze and rhetorical "how are you?" as he passed by formal living room where they were waiting. He is survived by his spouse, Juanita Matthews; daughters, Melanie Matthews, Valerie Larkins, Richard Larkins (son-in-law), and Tracie Matthews; five grandchildren, Micah Simon, Aaron Simon, Morgan Simon, Danny Larkins, and Christopher Larkins; siblings Harrison Matthews and Frances Morris; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and extended family members whom he adored. From your family, Thanks for being someone we could always count on. We love you and we will miss you... To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George E. Matthews, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

George E. Matthews

December 20, 1933 - August 30, 2015