Emerson Bruce Mathews

Emerson Bruce Mathews, 83, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Chesapeake, VA, on August 16, 2024.
Beloved husband, father, Paw-Paw, great-grandfather, brother, cousin, and friend, Bruce will be greatly missed by his wife of 60 years, Ann (Bodenman) Mathews; his children Ami (Mathews) and Scott Boshardt, Michael and Cherie (Hughes) Mathews, and John and Lori Mathews; his grandchildren Abigail (Mathews) and Kyle Stronach, Alexandra (Mathews) and Joshua Smith, Cami Mathews, Max Boshardt, and Calder Boshardt; his great-granddaughter Emma Stronach; sister Linda (Mathews) Rightor; sisters-in-law Carol (Bodenman) Danielson and Jean (Bodenman) Ferguson; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents Emerson and Thelma (Vernon) Mathews.
Bruce was a graduate of Big Walnut High School (Sunbury, OH), Capital University (Columbus, OH), and The Ohio State University.
He was a lifelong educator and communicator, sharing his talents and a passion for learning in various leadership positions at The Ohio State University, WOSU, University of Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.
A lifetime passion for music took him from his high school band "The Four Juniors," to Europe with the Capital University Choir, to the stage of Carnegie Hall with The Voices of the Mountains, as well as to the choir loft most Sunday mornings at the Galena (OH), Seymour (TN), Abingdon (VA), and Hickory (VA) United Methodist Churches.
Always active in his church and community, he dedicated enumerable hours to Habitat for Humanity, bringing innovative partnerships to the Washington County (VA) chapter. He also enjoyed volunteering and ushering at the Barter Theater in Abingdon.
Although his kids still commiserate about hoeing, picking, and weeding the garden, they also still remember the sweet corn and green beans; nor will they forget the day he came home, out of the blue, with a sailboat, and the hours spent on Hoover Reservoir. An avid reader and history enthusiast – especially of things that move – vacations often included an Air Force base, Tall Ships, a classic car show, a working mill, or an author's home. In recent years he especially enjoyed spending time in the Outer Banks with his family.
Most of all his wisdom, love, compassion, and humor will be missed by all who knew him.
A memorial service will be held at Hickory United Methodist Church, 2708 South Battlefield Boulevard, Chesapeake, VA on Saturday, August 24, at 3:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Habitat for Humanity would be appreciated.