Donald C. Matthews

Donald C. Matthews, age 92, of New Hartford, NY, formerly residing in Colonie, NY, passed away on Monday, November 26, 2018 at St Luke's Hospital in New Hartford, NY after a pulmonary illness. Don was born in Albany, NY on January 13, 1926. He was the son of LeRoy G. Matthews and the former Bertha M. Burbank. Donald was pre-deceased by his sister Ruth Matthews Henk in 1986 and brother LeRoy "Roy" Matthews in 1988.

Donald graduated from Albany High School in 1944 and later attended one year at the Albany College of Pharmacy after his military service. Don enlisted in the US Army in 1944 at the age of 18 and was a proud Army Combat Infantryman. He served in the Third Army, 28th Division, 110th Infantry Regiment, I Company and earned a Bronze Star for his efforts in the European Theater which included the Battle of Ardennes Forest, the Colmar Pocket and the Rhineland Campaign. In recent years, he participated in two Honor Flights to the WW II monument in Washington, DC through the efforts of VFW Post 8692..

Don was employed first as a bowling pin setter, at his father's Matthews Pharmacy Co in Albany, as a laboratory assistant at Knolls Atomic Power Lab, head of sales at Canteen vending in Schenectady and he was a car salesman at various automobile dealerships until his retirement. He then worked for a short time at the Boston Store in Latham as a clothing salesman.

Dad was a member of the Schenectady Rotary Club, the Schenectady Industrial Management Club, Schenectady Stamp Club, Niskayuna Reformed Church and the VFW. As a teenager, Don earned 20 merit badges in the Boy Scouts and missed the Rank of Eagle by not completing his Bird Study Merit Badge at it required study too early in the day. He made up for this by later becoming a Scoutmaster in the City of Albany for awhile after his military service. He was the winner of the Albany, NY 1941 Soap Box Derby where he was the best of 140 entrants and where he was awarded the M.E. Coyle Trophy; after which he raced his car in Akron, Ohio. He was also the 1938 Albany City Duncan Yo-Yo Champion.

Don was an avid reader of action/spy fiction, a garage sale afficionado, dog lover, staunch conservative, hard worker, proud father, better than average card player, who enjoyed "puttering around" and relished singing at social events and public speaking. He loved country and military themed music. He was a talented league bowler and proud left-hander. He savored numerous summers at the family camp located at the Great Sacandaga Lake. Dad referred to himself as an Army "Dogface", "Joe Pack Rat" and "Handsome Don".

Donald leaves his saintly wife Annette P. Matthews with whom he had been married for 68 years. He also leaves his four children: Raymond (Cher Larsen) Matthews of Sandy, Utah, Richard (Holly) Matthews of New Hartford, NY, Donna (Dwight) Roeser of Williston, VT and Douglas (Linda) Matthews of Hamilton, Ohio. He leaves eight grandchildren: Hanna (Derrick) Nueman, Amanda (Cory) Castillo, Hyrum (Ashlee) Matthews, Adam (partner Melissa Ostler) Matthews, Alex (Michelle) Matthews, Heather (partner Ryan Kelly) Matthews, Brett (Mika Moore) Roeser, and Evan (partner Laura Francella) Roeser. He also leaves five wonderful great grandchildren along with three fantastic nephews and their families.

In lieu of flowers, one might consider a donation to the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 8692, 140 VFW Drive, Colonie, NY 12205.

Services will be on Monday, December 3, 2018 at the New Comer Funeral Home located at 343 New Karner Road, Colonie, NY 12205 between 11:00 AM and Noon. Additional information can be found at www.newcomeralbany.com Burial with military honors will occur immediately afterwards at Memory Gardens, located at 983 Watervliet Shaker Road, Colonie, NY.