
BRADENTON, FLA.—H. Edward “Ed” Matthews Jr., 85, of Bradenton, Fla., passed away on December 29, 2019.
Born in Skelton, W.Va., he moved to Bradenton in 2015 from Lancaster County and he was a veteran of the Marine Corps during the Korean War.
He is predeceased by Lenore Carmel Zito Matthews, the light of his life on their 60th anniversary in 2016 whom he met his sophomore year in high school in Akron, Ohio; his parents, Herbert E. Sr. and Frances Matthews; brother, Jerome Matthews; and sister, Catherine Matthews.
He is survived by his daughters, Anne (Andrew) Flowers of Elizabeth City, N.C., Lynn (Don) Cobb of Orlando, Fla., and Aimee Jo (Matthew) Gober of Treasure Island, Fla.; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Ed worked for the Department of Agriculture for 37 years, but was a Renaissance man prior; working for the USPS, Dunn & Bradstreet and Arthur Murray as a dance instructor.
When he retired he built his dream home with Lenore on the Corrotoman River, volunteered at the Lancaster Virginia Historical Society (Mary Ball Washington Museum & Library), and was very interested with genealogy research. He loved socializing, sailing and spending time with family.
Graveside services were held at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 8, at Sarasota National Cemetery. Reception followed at Freedom Village Bradenton (Landings Lounge), 6410 21st Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34209. In lieu of flowers, send donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation. Condolences may be made to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.
Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel handled the arrangements.