A Quiet Passing

It is with great sadness, love and a sense of familial unity that we pass along the news of the peaceful passing of Charles Wm. (Bill) Mathews early
today at age 86. He died quietly in his sleep after spending the day Aug. 10 with his family and shortly after the arrival in Fraser that evening of
his nephew Dr. Jeff Mathews. He had fought esophageal cancer bravely and energetically for nearly 4 years. Needless to say, "family" was my Father's a special joy and he found great pleasure in the Mathews family reunions. He was particularly disappointed not to have been able to attend the 2007 reunion in Utah, the first family gathering he had missed since they began in the early 1980s. He was the ongoing thread that wove together the many branches of the family -- many of whom he proudly and rightfullly claimed as discovering through his on-line research. His list of family e-mail addresses, individual birthdays and his extensive collection of reunion documentation were his pride and joy. You all were his "treasure" and he felt himself greatly enriched by his contacts with each of you.

Please Keep Mother in your prayers -- it will be a difficult transition for her after 62 happy and eventful years of marriage. She is strong and surrounded by family and friends. We love you all, as did Dad. You and the reunions are his very special legacy. We will keep in touch as that is exactly what he would expect us to do.

Services/visitation for Dad will be as follows:

Visitation at the Faulmann-Walsh Funeral Home (in Fraser) on Monday, Aug. 13, from 2 p.m.-9 p.m., with services at St. John Lutheran Church, Fraser, at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14, followed by a short military service at the Cadillac Memorial Gardens in Clinton Township.

Family suggests memorial contributions in his name to St. John Lutheran Church (16339 Fourteen Mile Road, Fraser MI 48026) or to an appropriate charity of your choice.