Photo added by Christie McMillan

William Ritchie Matthews Sr.

Birth: 3 Sep 1927
Death: 26 Oct 2011 (aged 84)
Burial: Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery

Boulder City, Clark County, Nevada, USA Add to Map
Plot: X-0509
Memorial ID: 103652624 View Source

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Memorial
Photos 10
Flowers 1

Inscription

FN US NAVY
WORLD WAR II KOREA

WIND BENEATH OUR WINGS

Family Members

Parents

Cecile Martha Risley

1909–1975

Spouse

Charlotte J Matthews

1930–2001 (m. 1948)

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Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery
Boulder City
Clark County
Nevada
USA
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USA
Nevada
Clark County
Boulder City
Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery

Created by: Gregory Robinson
Added: Jan 16, 2013
Find a Grave Memorial ID:
Sponsored by Christie McMillan
Source Hide citation
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103652624/william_ritchie-matthews: accessed ), memorial page for William Ritchie Matthews Sr. (3 Sep 1927–26 Oct 2011), Find a Grave Memorial ID 103652624, citing Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City, Clark County, Nevada, USA; Maintained by Gregory Robinson (contributor 47851010).

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Memorial Photos

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Happy Trails to you...until we meet again.

Bill Matthews Sr

-by Christie McMillan

Added by: Christie McMillan on 26 Jul 2014

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Bill Matthews...as we all knew and loved him. This is pretty much how my grandpa looked for as long as I can remember. When he went somewhere, he typically had a hat.

Photo taken by William R Matthews Jr in 2005

-by Christie McMillan

Added by: Christie McMillan on 26 Jul 2014

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William Ritchie Matthews Sr.
US Navy
WWII & Korea
Served on the USS Missouri and USS Essex

-by Christie McMillan

Added by: Christie McMillan on 26 Jul 2014

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William ("Bill") Ritchie Matthews Sr.

My grandpa obtained Eagle Scout at 17 yrs. old. While still just 17 years old, he joined the US Navy and WWII with his mother's permission.

-by Christie McMillan

Added by: Christie McMillan on 26 Jul 2014

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Memories Of A Life:

Bill was the oldest of nine children, and the only son. He obtained Eagle Scout at 17, then joined the US Navy at just 17 with his mother's permission. (See B&W family photo, and lower left photo).

Bill proudly served on the USS Missouri in WWII and was aboard on September 2, 1945 during the Japanese surrender ceremony that ended World War II.

My grandfather was recalled to active duty and served in the Korean War as well. He served aboard the USS Essex. He suffered severe burns during a fire on the deck of the Essex after a jet crashed killing at least two men. (See news-clip bottom center)

One of Bill's original still-life oil paintings can be seen in the upper left corner.

-by Christie McMillan

Added by: Christie McMillan on 25 Jul 2014

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Bill's daughter Irene knew she found the perfect urn when she found this one. It was almost like her dad led her to it. Part of Bill's cremains rests in this urn and is proudly displayed in his daughters living room.

As far back as I can remember, my grandpa always had his cowboy boots on. Even when his feet hurt. He also wore a hat everywhere he went. In recent years, he often donned a Caterpillar or USS Missouri ball cap, and sometimes a cowboy hat. His hats were always nice quality and clean. He was always a gentleman and removed his hat at the appropriate times.

Bill dreamed of having a big cattle ranch one day. He took animal husbandry in college after WWII. He did work on a few ranches and even co-oped chicken ranch with a friend where they raised chickens and rabbits.

Bill was quite the adventurer with an amazing imagination, and artistic ability.

-Note: The American Flag and Bald Eagle painting in the background on the right was painted by Bill about 2 years before he passed. It is a "Paint-By-Numbers" project. He was very proud of his work and had it framed professionally, then presented it to his granddaughter Christie (me). It now proudly hangs in my living room.

Bill used to create large original oil on canvas paintings. In the last few years of his life, he often enjoyed passing time doing Paint-By-Numbers projects. He often added his own personal touches. He made many of these paintings and sold a few of them too.

-by Christie McMillan

Added by: Christie McMillan on 25 Jul 2014

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Bill's children: son Bill Jr. & daughter Irene.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife Charlotte J. Matthews in 2001

Find Charlotte by copying and pasting:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=87113003&rand=333

-OR-

Search FindAGrave.com by clicking "Search xxx Million Grave Records". (Avoid the search box at the top of the page...its an advertisement).

Then, Search for the following criteria:
Charlotte J Matthews
Born: IN 1930
Died: IN 2001
Cemetery In: The United States, Nevada, Clark County

Click search and Charlotte will come right up. I have sponsored her page as well, but have not uploaded many pictures simply because I haven't scanned photos into my computer yet. She passed before the smartphone era. I miss my grandparents so much. I think my grandma would have loved a smartphone. My grandpa could barely use his basic flip phone.

-by Christie McMillan

Added by: Christie McMillan on 25 Jul 2014

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Section X, Marker 509
This photo is of Bill's inurnment. This is his final resting place.

As seen in the photo, there are several grave markers. It's very sad to see how many veteran's are passing. Young and old, their voices are all hushed.

We returned a few weeks after this photo and were surprised to see the grass already filling in nicely. We were also surprised at how quickly the once bare land nearby was almost completely filled in by new grave markers. May God give each of them peace.

Note: Kindly take a moment to stop by the entrance plaza to pick up a free flag when visiting Bill or any other veteran in a Veteran Memorial Cemetery. The flags are usually outside for quick, easy access. Please give the respect & honor to the veteran you are visiting. Thank you.

-by Christie McMillan

Added by: Christie McMillan on 25 Jul 2014

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The large black urn contains part of Bill's cremains and is what was inurned. The smaller keepsake urn is one of the styles that family members who chose to keep part of our beloved father and grandfather selected.

Added by: Christie McMillan on 25 Jul 2014

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This is a photo of the marker shortly after my grandpa was inurned (cremains buried).

He was cremated and part of his cremains were placed in a large black and gold urn to be inurned with honor at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

The remainder of his cremains are with his family.

WILLIAM R MATTHEWS X509
FN US NAVY
WORLD WAR II KOREA
SEP 3 1927 OCT 26 2011
WIND BENEATH OUR WINGS

-by Christie McMillan

Added by: Christie McMillan on 25 Jul 2014

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Charlotte J Matthews

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