Colonel William K. "Bill" Matthews

Colonel William K. Matthews, USAF, Ret.

Retired Colonel William K. Matthews (Bill) passed away on August 8, 2025.

Bill was born in Denver, Colorado, on February 17, 1943, but grew up in Akron, on the eastern plains of Colorado, where the buffalo roam.

Growing up an only child, Bill worked with his parents, Robert and Marie Matthews, in their jewelry store on Main Street and enjoyed restoring cars with his dad. His favorite being a Golden Hawk Studebaker.

Bill met Rebecca Louise Elder (Becky) when they were in junior high, and he was best friends with her older brother.

He courted her in high school and college, and they married on New Year's Day in 1964, sweethearts for 61 years.

After graduating from the University of Colorado with an accounting degree, Bill was commissioned as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC.

He entered active duty and pilot training and served in the USAF for the next 26 years.

During those years, Bill and Becky traveled throughout Europe and made many cherished lifelong friendships.

Bill retired as a colonel, a highly decorated command pilot with more than 3,700 flying hours in the F-4 and F-15 fighter jets, including 750 hours in combat. His many decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters.

Upon retirement, Bill worked for Boeing as a flight simulator instructor.

Bill and Becky (or "Hon," short for Honey, as he affectionately called her) spent the next 30 years enjoying retirement on the beautiful Gulf Coast of Florida, dodging a few hurricanes.

You could find them most mornings at their neighborhood Waffle House, where their waitress would call them Mom and Dad and have their drinks on the table before they sat down.

When they were feeling extra free-spirited and limber, they would take their 1978 Corvette out for a drive along the white sandy beaches of Destin.

In 2024, they moved to Savannah, Georgia, to live less than 10 minutes away from their daughter, Leslie, her husband Greg, their eight grandchildren and spouses, and five great-grandchildren.

Always a logical and analytical thinker and one who had witnessed the devastation of the Vietnam War, Bill was not a man of faith for most of his life. However, over the years, the Lord softened and changed his heart from the quiet, stoic Colonel to a kind, jovial Papa.

Sixteen days before his death, Bill accepted Jesus as his Savior, and we are forever thankful for the Lord's faithfulness to save him and take him home.

He is survived by his wife Rebecca, daughter Leslie, son-in-law Greg, grandchildren Gary (Morgan), Miles (Allie), Matthew (Brenna), Grace (Walt), Graham (Elliot), Mary Anna, Manning, Merritt, great-grandchildren Evelyn and Louise, Keaton and Mari, Colette.

Becky and Leslie would like to thank Hospice Savannah, Dr. White, Dr. Hasselle, and their teams for the excellent, compassionate care they provided.

A private memorial service will be held in Savannah and a military burial at Beaufort National Cemetery at a later date.