Ronald Matthews Obituary

Born on January 26, 1944 in Anson, Maine, Ronald James Matthews was the son of Rudolph and Esther Matthews. With his older brother Gene and his younger brother Scott, Ron spent memorable summers with his Uncle David and Aunt Elizabeth Noyes, where the boys worked at local farms in the Stratham, New Hampshire area, and built lifetime bonds with a large cohort of cousins.
Ron graduated from Madison High School in 1962, where he was captain of the basketball team and president of his class. Ron attended the University of Maine at Orono and was active in ROTC, earning a degree in Math. A brother in Tau Kappa Epsilon, he met his lifelong friends Sarge Means and Rich Ennis. It was at Rich Ennis' wedding in 1966 where he met his future wife, Patricia Rose Dinger. They were married on June 18th, 1967 and were happily married for 54 years.
Soon after they were married, Ron was stationed in the Army at Fort Sill Oklahoma, where their first child, Tim, was born in 1968. Ron was then deployed to Vietnam, where at the end of his tour he retired as a Captain.
Ron accepted a teaching position at Upper Kennebec Valley High School in Bingham, Maine. This return to Maine was followed by the birth of their second child, Stacey, in 1970.
After a brief stint selling insurance, Ron returned to his true calling, teaching Math first at Timberlane High School in New Hampshire before moving to Colchester High School in Colchester Vermont. Ron would teach for over 20 years at CHS, where he also coached baseball and refereed basketball games across the state of Vermont. Always an advocate for education, Ron obtained his Masters in Education from the University of New Hampshire. Ron was a respected peer and a favorite with students, some of whom enjoyed calling him by the nickname "Sir".
Living at their home on Malletts Bay in Colchester, Ron and Pat were active members of the Malletts Bay Congregational Church from its founding in 1983.
An avid golfer, Ron enjoyed playing courses in New England with many friends and with Pat. After retirement, Ron and Pat moved to Zephyrhills, Florida, where they would live for 17 years. Ron embraced Florida, especially the year-round golf, with a whole new group of friends in Zephyrhills.
Ron was a loving grandfather to Tyler, Molly, and Carter, and great-grandfather to Camden. Ron loved watching his grandkids play sports, playing golf with Tim or cards with Stacey as well as playing bridge with fiends. He was also known for waking up the family early on Christmas mornings by dropping pots and pans on the kitchen floor.
Ron will be missed by son Tim Matthews and daughter-in-law Jennifer, of North Yarmouth, ME; daughter Stacey Matthews, of Williston, VT; grandson Tyler Combs and his fiancée Sabrina Rocque; granddaughter Molly Matthews; grandson Carter Matthews; great-grandson Camden Combs; niece Susan Marie Matthews, as well as numerous extended family members and close friends. Ron was predeceased by his parents, his brothers, and his loving wife, Pat.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Parkinson's Foundation. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Ronald, please visit our Tree Store.