Mr. Robert Matthias

Robert H. Matthias passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 28th while looking out a window where he lived at Maris Grove. Bob was born in Bridgeport, CT, to the late Virginia and Frederick William Matthias, Jr. and was raised with his two brothers, Bill and Donald, by his mother after his father passed away. He graduated from the Williston Northampton School in 1941 and then went on to study at Amherst College. Postponing graduation with fellow classmates, Bob entered the US Navy where he served as a WWII pilot and flight instructor in Pensacola, Florida. He resumed his studies after the war and graduated with the class of 1945 from Amherst in 1947. He also attended Brown University and University of North Carolina before starting his career with DuPont in 1952. He married his wife Anne in 1948 and they raised their five children with loving care, respect and humor. Bob retired from the DuPont Company in 1985 and traveled throughout the United States with Anne, spending many Octobers in Bar Harbor, Maine, and winters in Perdido Key, Florida, where they enjoyed visiting the Naval Aviation Museum. He loved to point out the various planes that he flew during the war, saying, "It's hard to believe that some of those things actually flew." Bob was an avid golfer at the DuPont Country Club for many years and enjoyed working for the LPGA McDonald's Tournament with Anne when it was in Wilmington and serving on the Board for several years. He believed in a good education and hard work, and most of all, he enjoyed a good barbecue on the back porch, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Anne, their 5 children and their spouses, James (Debbie), Nancy Pinson (Paul), Richard (Paula), John (Susan) and Barbara Miller (Thomas) and their 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. They held a private family celebration of life for him on Sunday. He will be missed, but not forgotten and always loved. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Rose Court at Maris Grove and the Willow Tree Hospice for their loving care and support. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Bob's name may be made to Williston Northampton School, Advancement Office, 19 Payson Avenue, Easthampton, MA 01027, or Amherst College, Annual Fund AC Box # 2228, PO Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002-5000, or The Delaware State Golf Association, Junior Scholarship Fund, 7234 Lancaster Pike, Suite 302-B, Hockessin, DE 19707.