of Vilonia, AR

April 19, 1943 - February 20, 2018

William Thomas (Tom) Matthews B.S. M.S.
Captain, USAF Retired,
19 April 1943 - 20 February 2018

Is now at home with his Lord. He is survived by his wife Carol Ann, Daughters; Patricia Kathlene Wilson, and husband Paul; Wendy Lynn Hannah, and husband Kevin; Son Thomas Bradly Matthews and wife Amanda. One Sister Frieda Schroder and husband Cliff. Step-children Justin B. Lee and wife Cindy, and Carla Rene Lee. Grandchildren; Brittany Raye Narretto and husband Brian, Quade Bradley Wilson, James Elish Matthews, Waylon Rye Matthews and Step-grandchildren; Hank, Sam and Max Hannah; Logan Daves; Haylee Reeves and husband Travis; Niki Lee; Ty Marshall. Great-grandchildren; Bella and Mia Narretto and step-great grandchildren Gunner and Parker Reeves. He was preceded by his Father Dairl Jack Matthews and Mother Marguerite Louise (Matthews) Criner.

Tom Dropped out of Bryant High School at the age of 17 and enlisted in the USAF in September 1960 and received his GED in March 1961. He started taking evening and week-end college classes in 1970 and completed his B.S. degree in December 1972. In April 1973 he entered Air Force Officer Training school and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in July 1973 and one day after his commissioning he was assigned to Kelly AFB in San Antonio Texas as the Chief, of Security at Air Force Security Service Hq. For the next 8 years he served as Chief of Security Police at various locations including; Incirlick AB, Adana Turkey, Brooks AFB, San Antonio, Texas where he completed his Master's Degree in 1979, and Thule AB Greenland. His final USAF assignment was; Chief, Space Systems Security at Hq. Strategic Air Command in Omaha, Nebraska.

Upon his retirement from the USAF after 23 years of service he embarked on building a house in Vilonia, Ar. When his children demanded to know what they had done to be banished to such a rural small town.

In December 1984 within one year after moving into the new house he suffered his first of many heart attacks and in January 1985 he had the first open heart surgery, a triple by-pass. Again in 2000 he had his second open heart surgery, a triple by-pass. It was about this time he was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Just barely two years later he had to have two stents placed in major cardiac arteries. In 2007 he spent 7 days in the intensive care unit for surgery for a subdural hematoma he suffered after a fall in the front yard. After numerous trips to Gastroenterologists, Rheumatologist, Urologist, Cardiologist and Primary Care doctors over the next 10 years, Carol thought surely everything that could be done was finished, but Tom had two more stents in major cardiac arteries in January 2017.

Tom's many endeavors after retiring from the USAF in 1983 was the building of a total of four houses and a duplex. Part owner and operator of a Yogurt store in Conway. Designing and being the first Director of the Arkansas Department of Corrections Boot Camp program. Designing and being the first Director of the Environmental Youth Corps (Juvenile Boot Camp) of Mobile Alabama. Designing and being the first Director of Youth build Mississippi County (Teaching troubled youth construction skills and educational skills leading to a GED) Tom also worked for Nabholz and CDI Construction companies as a cabinet maker. One thing he enjoyed was wood working and Carol thought he had lost his mind when he built his own casket and according to her he was morbid when he proved to her the casket was big enough by laying in the casket.

When he and Carol got bored they raised cattle. But most of all they loved their many, many annual trips to the Beach in Navarre Florida.

Visitation will be Saturday, February 24, 2018. 10:00-11:00AM at Friendship Baptist Church in Conway. Funeral service will follow at 11:00AM with Bro. Jeff Russell and Rev. Michael Mize officiating. Interment will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park with Military Honors by the United States Air Force.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, 10 Corporate Hill Drive, Ste 220, Little Rock, AR 72205

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