Chris T. Matthews

w pic and flag Chris T. Matthews 86, of New Market Chris Thrasyboulus Matthews, 86, of New Market, died Friday, July 17, 2009, at Glade Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Walkersville after a brief illness. Born July 23, 1922, he was the son of the late T. H. and Dorothy Carleas Matthews. He was the husband of Mary Lee Devilbiss Smelser Matthews, his wife of 57 years, whom he married Nov. 17, 1951. He was born and raised in Baltimore, was an accomplished artist and received a scholarship to the Maryland Institute of Art while attending Patterson Park High School. Upon graduation, he immediately enlisted in the Army and fought in World War II in the Pacific theater. He was severely wounded on the Island of Attu in the Aleutian Islands where he earned the Purple Heart and reached the rank of Master Sergeant. After the war, he entered the University of Maryland where he was a member of the football and wrestling teams eventually becoming the conference heavyweight wrestling champion. He graduated from the University of Maryland in 1950, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology. After his marriage, he started work as a research scientist at Fort Detrick, in Frederick until 1972. During this time, he received a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Johns Hopkins University. After leaving Fort Detrick, he was employed by the Maryland Environmental Service where he began working on serious environmental problems for the state government. He continued this work at the Pentagon within the Federal government in 1978. He completed his 36 years of Federal service at the Department of the Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Command where he was the chief environmental engineer for the Navy. He was an artist, scientist, engineer, philanthropist, educator, environmentalist and historian. He enjoyed serving his community and was committed to improving education for the next generation. He was appointed in 1962 to the Frederick County Board of Education where he served for 20 years including serving as president for several years. In 1975, he led the effort to establish the board of trustees that governs the Frederick Community College. He served for 10 years including three years as the boards' first chairman. After retiring, he served on the Frederick County Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Frederick County Historic Preservation Commission. He was a life member of the M Club at the University of Maryland, a member of Sigma Nu, many scientific and environmental organizations, and a founding member of the Holly Hills Country Club. Surviving, in addition to his wife, are sons and daughters-in-law Paul M. and Lynn Matthews, of Riva, Chris H. Matthews, of San Francisco, and J. Scott DJ Matthews, of Mt. Airy; grandchildren, Christina, Danielle, Alissa, Timothy, Emily and Nicholas Matthews; sisters-in-law, Betty Smelser, of near Unionville and Anne Matthews, of Annapolis. He was predeceased by sons Mark and David. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Hartzler Funeral Home, 11802 Liberty Road, Libertytown. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at New Market United Methodist Church, Md. 874 and N. Alley, New Market, with Rev. Mike Fauconnet officiating. Interment will be in Uniontown Methodist Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Chris and Mary Lee Matthews Family Foundation Scholarship Program at Frederick Community College, 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702; or to New Market United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 111, New Market, MD 21774. Online condolences may be made at www.hartzlerfuneralhome.com.