Clarence F. Matthews

1906 - 2017

Clarence F. Matthews

1906 - 2017

C.F. Larry Matthews, age 111 (the oldest man in America), passed away on Saturday evening, July 22, 2017 at 9:25 p.m. at his home in Indian Wells, California with his son at his side. Larry was born to Frank and Marianna (Souza) Matthews on May 1, 1906 at their home in Oakland, California. They were assisted by a mid-wife. He is survived by his 105-year old sister Babe, his only remaining sibling living in a nursing home in Red Bluff, California, and by his son Stephen and daughter Susan Rosas, Grandchildren Heather (Matthews) Sappenfield, Peter Matthews, Holly (Matthews) Hulett, Patrick Matthews, Cindy Wasson, Jennifer Singh, Adam Roach, and great grandchildren Christina Hulett, Lindsey Hulett, Sydney Sappenfield, Ivane Matthews, Jessa (Matthews) Mullan, Sophia Matthews, and Preston Matthews.

Larry graduated from high school at 16 years of age and went to work for Sears as a stock boy. They used roller skates to speed up the process. He was a wizard with numbers and was hired by Capwells Department Store as the Cash Manager and was soon promoted to Credit Manager. He met Barbara Elizabeth Hischer who was a model at Capwells. They were married in 1931. They had two children, Susan in 1937 and Stephen in 1941. They had to wait to have children because his parents lost everything in the crash of 1929 and the resulting depression. Since he was the only one with a viable job, he supported his parents and seven siblings until the country recovered.

He continued his career in accounting and finance until 1950 when he started a new career in construction. He met Kathryn Schwartz in 1951 and they were married in 1952. Larry built his first apartment building in 1964 in Huntington Beach, California. His partner in the project was Fredricks Development Company. They were so pleased with the results that they hired Larry to be the Vice President of Apartment Construction for Fredricks, which he did until 1980 when he retired. In 1972 he and Kay moved from Corona Del Mar to Indian Wells in the Sandpiper community where they lived out their lives.

His favorite things to do were dancing, golf, bridge, and gin rummy. Larry was a true gentleman. He carried himself with grace and dignity. He supported his sisters all of his life. He set up retirement accounts for his children and grandchildren, and taught them all about the value of building principle and never touching it. His legacy will live on for generations. Memorial service will be held on September 3, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the Ramon Chapel at Forest Lawn Mortuary 69855 E. Ramon Road, Cathedral City, CA.