John James Mathews

Published 9:40 am Monday, March 5, 2018

November 14, 1921 – February 21, 2018

Longtime Bend resident John J. Mathews died on February 21, 2018, at his home at Touchmark in Mount Bachelor Village. His death was peaceful.

John was born in Globe, Arizona on November 14, 1921, the youngest of five children born to Virginia and Clifton Mathews.

In 1935, he and his family moved to San Francisco, California, when his father was appointed to the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He attended public schools there and graduated from Lowell High School in 1939. During his years in San Francisco, he developed an interest in jazz and began playing the drums. As a young adult, he played in jazz bands and he continued to play for his own enjoyment until well into his later years.

He began his college education at the University of Oregon in 1940. When the United States became involved in WWII, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the South Pacific. After the War, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Military Intelligence U.S. Army Reserve. Over the next twenty years, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Throughout his years of military service he earned numerous awards and medals. He was proudest of his Meritorious Service Medal.

After the War, John resumed his studies at the University of Oregon. There he met his future wife, Gloria Grenfell. He graduated with a degree in journalism in 1946 and began working for the State of Oregon as Director of Public Safety. He and Gloria were married in 1948. They moved to Portland where they raised four children. In Portland, John began his career in the trucking and warehousing business. He became a partner with his father-in-law, Edward Grenfell, in a delivery company called Robinson Transfer and Storage. John became president and the company became OK Delivery Company, which he expanded and ran for more than thirty years. While working and raising a family, he served on the boards of directors of many public and private organizations, including Portland Community College, Multnomah Athletic Club and the Oregon Department of Corrections. He also served on the vestry of Epiphany Episcopal Church of Lake Oswego.

John and his family loved to ski and he volunteered countless hours as a timer and chief of race for Pacific Northwest Ski Association alpine ski races. He also remained a staunch supporter of the Oregon Ducks and attended many athletic events in Eugene.

John and Gloria ended their marriage after their children were grown. John then met Sylvia Sichel and they were married in 1984. They lived in Portland until after John’s retirement and moved to Bend in 1995. Along with everything Central Oregon has to offer, they enjoyed traveling in the United States and other parts of the world.John loved to laugh and he loved to talk with people and exchange ideas about everything from scientific developments to history and literature. Over the last eighteen years of his life, Parkinson’s disease got in the way of his full participation in community activities. He did, however, become a member of Greater Bend Rotary and Broken Top Club. He remained keenly interested in local and world events and he often wrote letters to the editor of the Bend Bulletin. From time to time, he was featured as a guest columnist for both the Bulletin and the Oregonian.

John is survived by his wife Sylvia, as well as his four children, Jane Mathews Lindgren (John Farwell) of Bend, Barbara Mathews (Rob Sweeney) of Santa Monica, Robert Mathews (Diane Mathews) of Bend, Mary Mathews Gunesch (Bill Gunesch) of Government Camp, and two stepsons, John Sichel of Portland and Matt Sichel (Joan Sichel) of Portland. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Doctors Without Borders and United Way of Deschutes County.

A memorial gathering for family members only will be held on Easter weekend.

The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the caregivers at Touchmark and Evergreen In-Home Care Services, as well as Partners In Care.