Obituary of Clifford H. H. Matthews

Clifford H. Matthews Jr, "Cliff" passed away peacefully, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Greensboro NC at the wonderful age of 94.He was a dear companion and best friend of wife, Joanna Livingston Matthews, for 70 years; loving father of Clifford H. Matthews III," Bud" and his wife Candy Caldwell Matthews of Greensboro, Stuart L Matthews of Raleigh, Janice Matthews Eldredge of Charlotte; proud grandfather of Ford Matthews and his wife Cindy, Baxter Matthews and his wife Amber, and Zach Matthews and his wife Michele of Greensboro, Maggie Matthews of Wilmington, and Reece Eldredge of Charlotte; great-grandfather of Harry and Hunter Matthews, Kaylee , Baxter Jr, and Lanier Matthews, all from Greensboro. Born in Toledo Ohio to Clifford and Elsie Matthews, Cliff spent much of his life and career in the south. A 36 year career with General Electric brought him to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Rome, GA, Baltimore, MD, and his final location and place of retirement, Hickory, NC. Cliff was a relatively quiet guy but loved and participated in many sports. Golf, volleyball, basketball, and bowling were a few of the ones he excelled in. He loved watching ACC basketball although he was a Purdue University engineering graduate. That engineering degree made him a sought after person when Uncle Sam drafted him during WW2. Cliff served in the US Army in a Special Engineering Detachment (SED) located in Oakridge, TN, and worked on the Manhattan Project. It is there that he met and married Joanna Livingston. Cliff will be remembered by family and friends as a warm, caring, and giving individual. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Hickory, a Mason since age 19, a builder of habitat homes, an avid gardener and bird watcher, a reader of cowboy books, and a proud patriot and US Army Veteran. It will be hard to forget someone who gave us so much to remember. He provided a wonderful home for his family. God welcomes him to his new home in Heaven. A private family service will be held in Greensboro at Abbotswood. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave. 7th floor, New York, NY 10001. Lambeth-Troxler Funeral Home is assisting the Matthews family.