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Marvin Austin Matthews was born on July 5th 1929 in Tulsa, OK to Melvin Augustus Matthews and Thalia Moss Matthews. He passed peacefully from this life to the next on March 1, 2026 at the age of 96.
Marvin Matthews had lived in Siloam Springs, AR since 1983 and retired from John Brown University in 1994. Marvin was a true Naturalist at heart, he was an author, a rock hound, a master in horticulture, he enjoyed photography and loved classical music. Marvin had a kind and generous soul, He loved and served God in the mission field, as a pastor and in his daily life. Marvin loved his family and dear friends and he will be greatly missed. His example to us is the epitome of a life well lived.
Marvin is survived by his wife Rosemary Matthews of the home, his sons Merrill Copperfield (wife Ginny), Sheldon Glass (wife Mary), Mark Bernard Matthews and a daughter Twyla Matthews (husband Rick); three grandsons: Kevin Glass, Ben Glass (wife Vianca), and Storm Burke (wife Shiny) and two great-grandchildren: Adrian and Karuna Burke; brother Millard Matthews and nieces Barbara Anderson, Carol Day, Thalia (Thom) Martin, Galitha (Will) Tate, Mashelle (Travis) Snow, and Ruth (Daryl) Youngman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Venessia Walker and Vera Rusk and one son Mark Lee of Oregon and nephews Bob Walker and Melvin Matthews II.
The family welcomes all Marvin’s loved ones to join them in person if able to help celebrate the life of Marvin Matthews.
Funeral Service will be held at Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home in Siloam Spring, AR at 10:00am on March 5, 2026. Committal Service with Full Military Honors to immediately follow at Wedington Cemetery.
Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Siloam Springs, AR is honored and privileged to be handling all final arrangements. To sign the online guestbook, order memorial trees or send flowers to the family, please visit www.backstrom-pyeatte.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1401 E Main Street, Siloam Springs, AR 72761

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