Robert Matthews

<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Robert B. Matthews, 76, of Athens, passed away peacefully at Ross Heart Hospital (OSU) on November 15, 2011 surrounded by loved ones.<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp; <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Born July 15, 1935 in New Straitsville, Ohio to the late Opal (Handley) and Walter Matthews, he moved to ATHENS -n 1939 when his parents opened The Sportsman Grill. <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A 1953 graduate of ATHENS High School, he received a Bachelorchr(39)s degree in Finance from Ohio University (1957) and a Masterchr(39)s degree in Business Administration from Ohio State University (1967).&nbsp;After working at Ford Motor Company in Detroit, he served in the Air Force for 11 years as a B-52 and RF-4C navigator.&nbsp;He flew more than 100 missions over North Vietnam and received three Distinguished Flying Crosses, 12 Air Medals and the Vietnam Service Medal.&nbsp;Following his fatherchr(39)s death in 1968, Bob resigned his commission at the rank of Captain to return to ATHENS -o help his mother manage The Sportsman Restaurant until his retirement in 1997.&nbsp;He was a member of numerous veterans organizations, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, The Elks, Masonic Lodge and ATHENS -enture Capital. <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He is survived by his ATHENS High School sweetheart and wife of 55 years, Nancy Riegel Matthews; his son Michael (Ann) Matthews of Bloomfield Hills, MI; his daughter Machelle (Robert) Stewart of Athens; his grandchildren Christopher (Gracie) Matthews of Austin, TX; Kellyann (Chris) Anderson of Huntersville, NC; Riley and Rachel Stewart of Athens; his great granddaughter Anabelle Anderson; his sister Debra (Rick) Horvath of Gilbert, AZ; his nephew Brett (Nikki) Horvath of Scottsdale, AZ; and his niece Torri (Terry) Medovitch of Sarver, PA.&nbsp;He is preceded in death by his parents, a grandson Gavin Stewart, and a great-grandson Madden Matthews. <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The family will host calling hours at Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home on Saturday from 3 - 6 p.m where military services will be conducted by <span style="font-size: 12pt;">the ATHENS -FW Post 3477, Albany VFW Post 9893, and the American Legion Post 21.<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A family graveside service is planned for a later date.&nbsp;In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bobchr(39)s name to Unverferth House, 190 King Ave., Columbus, OH. 43201, which provides family accommodationchr(39)s for transplant patients at the OSU Hospital.&nbsp;Bob was blessed with 10 additional years of life thanks to the generosity of a lung donor, and our family is forever grateful. <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You may send a message of sympathy to the family at <a href="http://www.hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com/"><font color="#0000ff">www.hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com</font>.