Alvin Arthur Matthys

Alvin Arthur Matthys of Wharton died at his home on June 23,  2025. Alvin was born on January 19, 1930, in Mackay, Texas to the late Walter Alfred and Vera Frels Matthys.

Alvin went to school at Crescent High School in Wharton County (currently the Wharton County Youth Fair Grounds). Alvin was one of two students that ever graduated from Crescent High School having lettered in five sports in one year, (football, basketball, tennis, baseball and track). After graduating from high school, Alvin attended Wharton County Jr. College entering into their first ever automotive repair class. He then went to work at Cossey’s Auto Service (Pontiac Dealership). Two years later, he was drafted into the army and went to Korea, where he served as a Chaplain. After his honorable discharge in 1953, he attended the University of Houston pursuing a career in Electronics.

Alvin married Caroline Sembera on February 21, 1955 at Holy Family Catholic Church and they made their home in Wharton where they raised their two children Debra and Loretta.

Alvin had three priorities in life: God, Family, and Work. There was not much time for anything else. Alvin was a devout Catholic and lived his faith every day, leading his family and serving his community by example always proclaiming that all things come from God and God is always in charge. He served the church proudly in many ways: Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion , lector, director of the religious education program, a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Council 3262 becoming a 4th degree knight, a member of the Holy Name Society, the Holy Family Fellowship and in 1972 was ordained as a Permanent Deacon for a lifetime of service in the church.

Alvin loved caring for the family and making new friends. He will be remembered for his dedication to family and friends. He enjoyed dancing, music and playing “42” with a group of 16 friends that formed a “42” club in 1960 that played and partied together for the next 35 to 40 years.

To Alvin, work was a necessity, a pleasure and endless. All his life, he had at least two jobs going after he settled into a 46-year career with Gulf Coast Medical Center as Director of Plant Operations and Fiscal Services where he finally retired at age 76. During his work career, he was a member of the Texas Association of Hospital Facilities Management (a state organization) serving on their Board of Director for two years. Alvin was elected as a member of the Wharton City Council where he served for 9 years. After marriage, along with any other jobs, Alvin owned and operated Matthys Service Company making repairs to electronics and heating and cooling systems until he was 72 years old.

Alvin was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Wilbert “Doc” Matthys and his wife Norma, sister, Betty Legler, sister, G Maria Caylor and her husband, Bill and a sister-in-law Mildred Veselka and her husband Frank.

Alvin is survived by his wife of 70 years, Caroline Sembera Matthys, daughters Debra Kay Hafer and her husband Mike of Richmond Texas, Loretta Ann Flynn and her husband Keith of Wharton Texas, brother-in-law Edward Sembera and his wife Bert of Atlanta Georgia. Grandchildren: Aaron Hafer and his wife Natasha of Richmond Texas, Brett Hafer and his wife Haley of Richmond Texas, Shea Flynn of Istanbul, Turkey and Devyn Flynn of Wharton Texas. Great Grandchildren: Brylee Hafer, Hudson Hafer, Dutton Hafer, Camber Hafer, and Allie Hafer all from Richmond Texas.

Visitation will be at Holy Family Catholic Church on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. with a Rosary beginning at 9:30 a.m. Funeral Mass will be Celebrated at 10:00 a.m. with Father Samuel Appiasi presiding. The rite of committal and burial will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park in Wharton Texas. Serving as pallbearers will be his fellow Catholic Deacons.

Memorials may be given to the Holy Family Fellowship, the Holy Family Building Fund or to your favorite charity.

Services will be under the supervision of Wharton Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at whartonfuneralhome.com.