Lonnie-Matthews-Obituary

Lonnie Matthews

Athens, Arkansas

Feb 12, 1912 – Oct 20, 2010

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BORN
February 12, 1912
DIED
October 20, 2010
LOCATION
Athens, Arkansas

Obituary

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Lonnie Matthews, age 98, of Athens, passed away Wednesday, October 20, 2010, at the Dierks Health and Rehab in Dierks. He was born on February 12, 1912, in Sims, to Mont Ville Washington Matthews and Mary Belle Howard Matthews. He was a longtime resident of North Howard County. Lonnie was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. He served in Germany, Belgium and France. He was drafted on April 5, 1944, and received an honorable discharge on May 16, 1946. He was a PFC of Company C of the 28th Division, 110th Infantry. Lonnie was trained as a rifleman, tank destroyer and ammunition bearer. He fought in the battles of the Central European Theater, Ardennes Forest, Rhineland and was a replacement for Battle of the Bulge. He received three Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, EAME Theater Ribbon and Army of Occupation Ribbon (Germany). Lonnie was the oldest WWII veteran remaining in Howard County. Lonnie was a retired farmer, cattleman and school bus driver. On January 21, 1934, Lonnie married Winnie Mae House. Lonnie and Winnie celebrated 73 years of marriage together, prior to her preceding him in death on December 14, 2007. He was also preceded in death by his parents; and five sisters, Stella Pollock, Iva Plyler, Lorene Pichon, Zora Pinkerton and Ola Matthews. Lonnie is survived by his twin daughters, Verdene Lingo and her husband, Jerry, and Merlene Golden and her husband, Junior, all of Athens; two granddaughters, Cheri Flemens and her husband, Bruce, of Athens and Stephanie Strasner and her husband, Michael, of Dierks; five great-grandchildren, Ashley Aylett and her husband, Wes, Devin Flemens, Tyler Strasner, Brady Strasner and Allison Strasner; one great-great-granddaughter, Adalie Aylett; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, October 22, 2010, in the Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Glenwood with Bro. Dale Crawford, Bro. Scott Kitchens, Rev. Doyle House and Bro. Kenny Fant officiating. Visitation will be held Thursday, October 21, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Interment will be in the Bissell Chapel Cemetery under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood. Pallbearers will be Devin Flemens, Tyler Strasner, Randy House, Troy House, Larry House, Von Pate, Ronnie Pate and Royce Pate. Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.

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Thinking of you on your birthday.
Love, Family

Another year has come since you went away.
Yor're always in our hearts each and every day.
We miss you everydy and our lives are not the same, the ache in our hearts will not go away.
We hurt so deep inide and wish you were by our side.
We wil never forget our Daddy, for you were the one and only.

Love you forever
Your Family

With tears of sorrow we cry each day,
in angel's arms you were carried away.
Our memories of Love and laughter shall not fade,
for inside our hearts you will always stay

On Sunday, February 12, 2012 would have been your 100th birthday. We miss celebrating your birthday with you, but we cherish the memories just the same.
Love
Your Family

One year has passed
We'll never forget the day
Someone called to tell us
That you had passed away.

As the days go by us
We miss you every day.

We wake each morning to start a new day
But the pain of losing you never goes away.

Over the years as you grew older
We still wanted to lean on your shoulder.

We knew we would not have your forever,
But we didn't want to watch you suffer, however.

Our hearts still...

Father's Day Memory
June 19, 2011

If we could write a story,
It would be the greatest story every told,
Of our kind and loving Daddy,
Who was so brave and bold.

If we could write a book about you,
We would never be able to say,
How much we love and miss you, our Daddy,
Every single day.

There was always something special,
About our Daddy's everlasting love,
He was always giving, sharing and inspiring us,
To set...

Daddy:
Two months ago today, you left us, it seems like yesterday. Still missing you.
Your Family

MISSING YOU

Daddy, Our grief knows no end;
We can't accept your're gone,
We're grieving for you every day;
It's hard to keep going on.

You were always there to support and understand us;
When we needed a true friend,
How we'll ever go on without you,our Daddy,
We cannot comprehend.

You were our leader, our...