Charles Melvin Matus

Charles Melvin Matus, a near life-long fixture in the Johnson City community passed away on March 22, 2026, at the age of 91. He was born on October 1, 1934 to Julius Charles Matus and Viola Berger Matus at Hays City, Texas.  In his early years, Charles and his family lived in many different areas around Central Texas.  Life was hard as his father was a cowboy and you had to go where you could find work. Sometimes they barely had a roof over their heads!

After attending several one-room schools in the area, Charles graduated from Johnson City High School in 1952.  He and Ola Gipson married in 1954.  They moved to Houston where Charles worked various jobs.  He was very active during these years in the Texas National Guard, both in San Antonio and Pasadena. He really honed his cooking skills in the Guard.  At one point, he had 150 cooks under his direction.

After several years in Houston, Charles and Ola returned to Johnson City in 1961 when he chased his dream of owning his own restaurant.  Charles’ Restaurant opened in 1961 and was a staple in the Johnson City community until he sold and retired in 1992.  Everyone really enjoyed the food served at Charles’, especially the chicken fried steak, donuts, cinnamon twists and homemade pies and bread.  Charles was very proud of his café and was active in the Texas Restaurant Association-Austin Chapter, being recognized as Restauranteur of the Year.

Though running a restaurant was more than a full-time job, Charles was always very civic-minded. He served as mayor of Johnson City, on the Johnson City School Board and on the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) board of directors. He was also a very active member of the Masonic Lodge and Lions Club.  He felt a strong sense of community and always sought ways to give back to the community he loved. Charles’ strong work ethic was an example for many young people over the years. He really enjoyed mentoring and watching people improve their lives.

In his retirement years, he found a love for reading, spending afternoons at his property at Sandy and watching the San Antonio Spurs.  

Charles is preceded in death by his parents, Julius Charles Matus and Viola Berger Matus of Marble Falls and his only brother, J.C. Matus of Texas City, Texas.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Ola Gipson Matus; his son, Chuck Matus of San Antonio and his daughter, Suzanne Hix of Zorn, Texas.  Charles and Ola always enjoyed their 5 grandchildren, Jennifer Sachs, Dani Riedell, Stephen Matus, Carrie Welch, and Morgan Gualy; and their eight great-grandsons, Cayden, Brek, Emerson, Connor, Graham, Henry, Luke and Charlie. Charles is also survived by his only sister, Betty Page of Marble Falls.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Crofts-Crow Funeral Home in Johnson City on Saturday, March 28.  Viewing and visitation will be at 10:00 am, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 am. Interment will immediately follow the service at the Masonic Cemetery in Johnson City.