|
Tom was the son of the late Thomas Philip Mathews Jr. and Mildred Hawthorne Mathews.
Tom is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 29 years, Jennifer Carter Mathews; his son, William Philip Mathews; his daughter, Elizabeth Mathews Eldredge (husband, Joseph); his sisters, Linda Elizabeth Mathews and Nancy Mathews Castro (husband, Mark, children, Lee and Sidney). He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Douglas C. Carter and David C. Carter; and his sisters-in-law, Blair Carter and Mariah C. Rogers (husband, Mark).
Tom was born March 11, 1956, in Fort Dix, New Jersey and lived in Richmond and later Charlottesville, Virginia. Growing up, Tom and his family belonged to Fairview Swim Club where his love of swimming began. Tom graduated in the Albemarle High School Class of '74, The United States Air Force Academy and Boston University. He retired from the Air Force at the rank of Major after serving 17 years of active duty as an air weapons controller. He was stationed in Florida, Korea and Nevada prior to his marriage to Jenny. After he and Jenny married they served in Germany, Oklahoma, Iceland and Arizona. Among Tom's many awards, he felt proudest of the Meritorious Service Medal, earned while he was Mission Crew Commander on an AWACS airplane during the first Gulf War, Desert Storm.
Upon his retirement, he and Jenny moved home to Charlottesville to raise their children among family and friends, and care for their aging parents. Tom and Jenny and family were active members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church where Tom served as Usher and Audio Visual Technician and helped with the church grounds for many years. Tom was also a long-time member of the Air Force Association, the Rivanna Radio Control Club, and a life-long aficionado of anything that flew. He loved to fish and check out the newest cars. He enjoyed cheering on the UVA sports teams with his son and Mom (Mickey) and could be found most game days at Mickey's table with a Coke and can of peanuts. Tom was a hard worker and devoted family man who will continue to be loved and missed by many. It was a great joy for his family that Tom was able to walk Elizabeth down the aisle in October of 2013. Tom was an animal lover, and his knucklehead dog, Rogie will miss him as much as the rest of his family.
A celebration of Tom's life will be held at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1500 E. Rio Road, on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 1 p.m. There will be a reception immediately afterward in the church's fellowship hall, followed by interment at Riverview Cemetery in Charlottesville.
Donations to the Central and Western Virginia chapter of the Alzheimer's Association at 1160 Pepsi Place, in Charlottesville, would be appreciated. Friends may sign the guest register at teaguefuneralhome.com
Submitted by Connie Crenshaw.
|
