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Gene Matthews Obituary
Gene LeRoy Matthews
Gene was baptized at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Winlock, WA, where his family resided, and attended Winlock schools, where he graduated high school in 1963. He accumulated many achievements during his school years, including being a representative to Boys State, first team all-conference in football, and achieving the Order of the Arrow in Boy Scouts. Gene attended the University of Washington, obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering, and went to work for the Boeing Company three days after graduation. He completed nearly thirty years with Boeing, taking breaks occasionally to follow other interests. These included time as City Superintendent for the City of Winlock and work in the water departments of Snoqualmie Pass, WA, Castle Rock, WA, and Olympia. Gene married Jodi, and they later divorced. On January 6, 2007, Gene married Evie Haapala, whom he had escorted to her senior prom in Winlock in 1964, and they resided at Gene's family home in Winlock until his death. Gene was a man of passionate interests, among the greatest being hang gliding, politics, and football. He was the first person to fly a hang glider inside the King Dome in Seattle, WA, and helped to organize that televised event. He was also an avid sportsman who climbed Mt. St. Helens, WA, numerous times, beginning with high school friends and including a 40-year reunion climb with the same friends and their children.
Gene is survived by his loving wife, Evie; sister, Janet Pearsall; Jess Bowers, whom he considered a son; numerous nieces, nephews; great-nieces; and great-nephews; and legions of beloved friends throughout the world.
His parents, Rolla and Frances Matthews; and his brother Doug Matthews, preceded Gene in death.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., on Saturday, August 30, 2008, at the Winlock Community Building, located next to the Fire Station on Kerron Street in Winlock.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be a donation to a charity of your choice.
Gene may fair winds and the wings of eagles guide you to the light.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Gene Matthews
Rick Girard
September 18, 2008
I'm sure the Lord has given you your permanent wings by now and you're tearing up the thermals in Heaven. Push way out.
Jim and Terry Chasteen
September 2, 2008
Gene,
Knowing you the past 30 years has been a joy for me. I always appreciated your insight of things on this earth even if I didn't necessarilly agree with your position. See you on the other side.
Gail Egner
August 31, 2008
I remember meeting you shortly after I arrived in Washington. I heard about your handgliding skills and found them all true. What a great genuine guy. Thanks for being you for so many.
Susan Brandon
August 30, 2008
My prayers to all the family, including my Mom and Dad, who will miss Gene and his great smile.
David Schy
August 30, 2008
I will always remember our learning to fly together in Tumwater. Gene's friendship and guidance, quick wit and attention to detail are legendary. Gene was one of the most politically astute men I have ever had the great pleasure to call a friend. He was truly one of our brothers, and we will always reap the benefits of his love.
Paul Brandon
August 29, 2008
Gene was my father’s cousin, but he and I were close in age. We did not get to know each other well, but I knew him well enough to admire his spirit and joy in living, his sometimes quirky ways, and his smiling manner. I last saw him, after many years apart, in 2004 when he drove at least 100 miles to attend my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary. None of his winning ways that I knew from before had changed. He was too young to die, and I know he will be missed.
Mike Kelley
August 28, 2008
Gene,
I remember when I first met you in 1968 at Boeing when we were in Liaison Engineering in Everett working on the 747 and you were right after you got out of college. You were still living on campus and didn’t have a place to go, so we moved in together in North Seattle. I remember riding to work together you and those two St Bernards that you had at our house and how you looked forward to bringing them in and playing with them when we got home from work. I remember going with you to Winlock the first time for “Egg Day” celebration and we drank beer and ate hard-boiled eggs. I remember how you had me drive your Triumph car to Winlock with a bent rear wheel after you got in a wreck, while you followed me in your almost new ’66 Chevelle.
Later, after we weren’t living together, I remember visiting you at the small apartment in the Hyatt chalet at Snoqualmie Pass, while you were working at Boeing and driving to Everett each day. I’ll always think of you when I go across Snoqualmie pass.
We had many great times together and you always had a great sense of humor and that great laugh. You will be missed.
Mike Kelley
Roberta (Lankow) Haakenson
August 27, 2008
Gene was in my childhood life every day but Saturday. He was born two days before me so was my 'brother.' We went to the same church so saw each other on Sunday, went through every Sunday school class together and were confirmed together. We were in the same grade throughout all our years in school. There are so many fond, fond childhood memories that I'll always have of Gene. What a wonderful sense of humor! How saddened I am by your death.
Kathleen Hakola Pace
August 26, 2008
Gene was in the Winlock class of '63--an ambitious and fun group of 43 small town and country individuals. Gene was town, and I was country, but we were in many of the same classes, choirs, and plays year after year from elementary school and then up the stairs into high school. Finally we graduated on that unusually warm May evening in the old gym. Many years have passed, but I still remember Gene's smile and his gentle demeanor. Gene was always the gentleman, even as a teenager. I got to talk to him only for a brief time about 5 years ago at my mother's Alder Street estate sale, but it was the same Gene I knew as kid. I am saddened by his passing and regret that I have a family graduation celebration to attend on Saturday instead of Gene's service, but I will be thinking of him. My deepest sympathy to Evie, and Gene's family and friends, Kathleen Hakola Pace
Bonnie (Clinch) Givens
August 26, 2008
I remember you Gene, you lived across the tracks from me all through high school. You always had such a wonderful smile. You will be missed.
howie mcnelly
August 26, 2008
Gene was my childhood neighbor, and quite the altitude sportsman, but who can forget that voice? And his tree-house? And "The Place" ,the rock'n'roll capitol of Lewis County he created nearly 40 years ago? He was fun and funny and we'll miss him.
Howie McNelly
Archie Curtis
August 26, 2008
I knew you as one of those pesky underclassmen in high school. You were always the real deal. A smile a mile wide. One of the good guys. This world would be a better place with a few more Gene Matthews in it.
TC Howard
August 26, 2008
Gene,
I enjoyed working with you in those early days in Engineering Liaison on the 747 program up at Everett, Washington. What a great group, you, Mike, Sharon and others.
David Lindberg
August 25, 2008
Gene,
Thank you for being my friend. I have many memories of our friendship, going back to the mid seventies. They are all good memories. When you lived on Whidbey, you took us in on one rainy Sunday afternoon and shared your living room with a pretty ragged crew. At Chelan, you really impressed me with your flair for organization. Your driver was all business, setting out wind indicators, and talking you into a remote LZ. And, the trip from LaMoine to chase an XC pilot was memorable, not for the other pilot's flight, but for the great time we spent in your FourRunner with you. There are many more great memories, but mostly it was that you always wore a great smile beneath that beard. It was my pleasure to have known you.
Dave
Thomas & Lisa Thunstedt
August 25, 2008
You are a good friend, you will be greatly missed. Fair skies. May your flights be never ending.....
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