John Matthis

John Rice Britt Matthis
February 2, 1920 - February 8, 2013
Raleigh
John Rice Britt Matthis of Raleigh passed away on Friday, February 8, 2013 at the age of 93. He was born at home on his family's farm near Clinton, North Carolina on February 2, 1920 to Jerrie James Matthis and Emma Britt Matthis. He attended a one-room schoolhouse during his childhood years. After graduating from high school, he served aboard submarines in the Navy during World War II, principally the USS Haddock. After the war, he returned to North Carolina to attend Wake Forest Law School. While there, he was elected President of the Student Body and Student Council. He was selected by the faculty to represent the Law School in the National Moot Court Competition. Upon graduation in 1951, he practiced law in Jacksonville, North Carolina, until he was recalled to active duty as a Lieutenant in the JAG Corps of the United States Air Force. He served as a legal officer at various Air Force bases in Japan, Germany and the United States until 1960, when he was selected to teach law at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. There he served as a Professor of Law and Deputy Head of the Department of Law. He retired from the Air Force in 1973 and returned to North Carolina where he joined the Attorney General's Office as Director of the Environmental Protection Division. Later he served as Director of the Consumer Protection Division until his retirement in 1985. After retirement from State government, he served as Executive Director of the Downtown Raleigh Development Corporation, and as a member of the Raleigh Human Relations Commission.
He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Raleigh where he served in various capacities as a deacon, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sunday school teacher, President of his Sunday school class, and Chairman of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
John had a heart for service and was active in many civic organizations as well. He served on the Board of Directors of the Wake County Boys and Girls Club, the Salvation Army, Learning Together, American Legion Post 1 and the Raleigh Civitan Club. He was selected as the Raleigh Civitan Club's "Civitan of the Year" in 1979 and presented its distinguished President's Award in 1981. He served as General Counsel for the American Legion Department of North Carolina for 13 years, as well as serving as Post Number 1 Commander. He was active in AARP serving as Chairman of its State Legislative Committee in 1992 and Chairman of its Capital City Task Force in 1993. John was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor James Hunt for his distinguished public service.
John was selected in 1984 as Wake County Veteran of the Year. He was privileged to participate in the first Triangle Flight of Honor trip for veterans who were flown to Washington, D.C. on October 7, 2010 to visit the World War II Memorial. He was so moved by the trip that he wrote an article about his experience which was published by the Raleigh News & Observer on November 25, 2010. [http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/25/822550/65-years-later-wwii-veteran-opens.html] The publication of this article lead him to meet a wonderful group of local submariners who became new friends and greatly enriched the later years of his life.
John was known for his generosity, positive attitude, big smile, sage advice, tenacity and the ability to get things done. He was a big man with a big personality. He loved people and volunteering and the satisfaction of helping others. He enjoyed history, reading, walking for miles, traveling, investing, politics, cars, and cooking highly-seasoned food, especially big Southern breakfasts and steaks on the grill. But most of all, he loved his family. He will be truly missed.
On September 16, 1950, he married the love of his life, Anne McCallum of Rowland, North Carolina, who survives along with their son, John, Jr. and his wife, Mary Louise, of Cary; their daughter, Karen Smith and her husband, Bob, of Cary; their daughter, Emily Armantrout and her husband, Jeff, of Woodinville, Washington; and four grandchildren, David, Ryan, Alex, and Hannah Armantrout. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved.
A celebration of John's life will be held at First Baptist Church, 99 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh on Saturday, February 16 at 2:00 p.m. The family will receive friends after the service in the Church Fellowship Hall. A private burial will follow at a later date in the Matthis Family Cemetery (est. 1864) in Sampson County, North Carolina. The family would like to thank his many friends and relatives who have shown their love and compassion toward him during his lifetime and especially during his last months of illness, as well as the kindness and care of the staff at The Oaks at Whitaker Glen, Mayview Convalescent Center and Hospice of Wake County. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, the Wake County Boys and Girls Club or the charity of one's choice.