Individual Details
Charles Leonard Matthews
(4 Apr 1920 - 8 Aug 2010)
Biography of Charles Matthews
Charles Leonard Matthews was born on April 4, 1920 in Long Island City, Queens, NY. While attending high school, he worked at various jobs including working at a drugstore/soda shop and working at the telegraph office. He graduated from high school in 1938. His father assisted in getting Charles a job at IBM and he worked in Philadelphia, PA. He eventually became a Branch Office Manager. He lived in a boarding house in Upper Darby, PA and loved to dance and used to attend the local “mixers”. It was there that he met Cora. World War II was in full swing and Charles was inducted on April 9, 1943 into the United States Army 331st Army Air Force Base Unit where his duty was Power Turret and Gunsight Mechanic. Because he was legally blind in one eye, his military service was served within the United States.
Life after the war
Upon discharge from the Army, Cora and Charles returned to Upper Darby, PA, and Charles returned to his job at IBM in Philadelphia.. Their son Charles Robert Matthews was born on May 12, 1946 at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Their daughter, Caryl Joan Matthews was born Nov. 5, 1948 at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.
Cora and Charles bought their first home in 1952 in Glenolden, PA. Bob and Caryl have many happy memories playing with their cousins John, Jerry and Jim who lived in nearby Havertown, PA. Every summer vacation until 1956 was spent visitng Gramma and Grampa Winsness on the farm in ND. We loved it! We spent out days chasing cattle, climbing the windmill, playing with the kittens, attempting to milk cows and gather eggs, riding the horses, riding on the tractor with Grampa, fishing in a row boat on the James River with the hired hand, Arnold Burndt, going into New Rockford and having ice cream sodas and going into the meat locker.
In 1956, IBM was expanding and a new facility was being built in Rochester, MN. They jumped at the chance to move to the Midwest. Charles was among the first twenty employees at IBM Rochester. Today that number is over 5,000 employees. They bought their second home and lived in it until 2000 when health issues became a problem. They moved to a Senior Living Complex until Cora’s death on June 21, 2003. Afterward, Charles moved to MA to be near his son Bob. He lives in a Senior Assisted Living Complex today. Charles worked for IBM for 40 years retiring in 1981 where he worked in Production Control and was in charge of inventory.
by Caryl Matthews Luis.
----------------------
Charles L. Matthews
A memorial service for Charles L. Matthews will be held on Sept. 10 at 11 AM at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester. Private burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester.
Charles, 90, died in his home in Auburn, MA., surrounded by his loving family on Aug. 8, 2010 after a brief illness. He was born in Astoria, NY, April 4, 1920, graduated high school, served in the US Army Air Force Base Unit from 1943 to 1946 and was employed by IBM for 40 years. He was among the first group of employees when IBM opened its business in Rochester in 1956. He was a member of Zumbro Lutheran Church until he relocated to MA in 2003. He enjoyed boating, working on Jig saw puzzles, reading Western novels, Cadillacs, Big Band music and dancing at the Elks.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Cora. He is survived by: a son, C. Robert and his wife Paula Ann Pricken of Shrewsbury, MA; a daughter, Caryl Matthews Luis and her husband Gary of Granite Bay, CA; four grandchildren, 2 great granddaughters and a sister, Joan L. Matthews of Manhasset, NY.
Friends may call at the church one hour before the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Charles’ name to: Season’s Hospice 1811 Greenview Place SW Suite 110 Rochester, MN 55902
Charles Leonard Matthews was born on April 4, 1920 in Long Island City, Queens, NY. While attending high school, he worked at various jobs including working at a drugstore/soda shop and working at the telegraph office. He graduated from high school in 1938. His father assisted in getting Charles a job at IBM and he worked in Philadelphia, PA. He eventually became a Branch Office Manager. He lived in a boarding house in Upper Darby, PA and loved to dance and used to attend the local “mixers”. It was there that he met Cora. World War II was in full swing and Charles was inducted on April 9, 1943 into the United States Army 331st Army Air Force Base Unit where his duty was Power Turret and Gunsight Mechanic. Because he was legally blind in one eye, his military service was served within the United States.
Life after the war
Upon discharge from the Army, Cora and Charles returned to Upper Darby, PA, and Charles returned to his job at IBM in Philadelphia.. Their son Charles Robert Matthews was born on May 12, 1946 at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Their daughter, Caryl Joan Matthews was born Nov. 5, 1948 at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.
Cora and Charles bought their first home in 1952 in Glenolden, PA. Bob and Caryl have many happy memories playing with their cousins John, Jerry and Jim who lived in nearby Havertown, PA. Every summer vacation until 1956 was spent visitng Gramma and Grampa Winsness on the farm in ND. We loved it! We spent out days chasing cattle, climbing the windmill, playing with the kittens, attempting to milk cows and gather eggs, riding the horses, riding on the tractor with Grampa, fishing in a row boat on the James River with the hired hand, Arnold Burndt, going into New Rockford and having ice cream sodas and going into the meat locker.
In 1956, IBM was expanding and a new facility was being built in Rochester, MN. They jumped at the chance to move to the Midwest. Charles was among the first twenty employees at IBM Rochester. Today that number is over 5,000 employees. They bought their second home and lived in it until 2000 when health issues became a problem. They moved to a Senior Living Complex until Cora’s death on June 21, 2003. Afterward, Charles moved to MA to be near his son Bob. He lives in a Senior Assisted Living Complex today. Charles worked for IBM for 40 years retiring in 1981 where he worked in Production Control and was in charge of inventory.
by Caryl Matthews Luis.
----------------------
Charles L. Matthews
A memorial service for Charles L. Matthews will be held on Sept. 10 at 11 AM at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester. Private burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester.
Charles, 90, died in his home in Auburn, MA., surrounded by his loving family on Aug. 8, 2010 after a brief illness. He was born in Astoria, NY, April 4, 1920, graduated high school, served in the US Army Air Force Base Unit from 1943 to 1946 and was employed by IBM for 40 years. He was among the first group of employees when IBM opened its business in Rochester in 1956. He was a member of Zumbro Lutheran Church until he relocated to MA in 2003. He enjoyed boating, working on Jig saw puzzles, reading Western novels, Cadillacs, Big Band music and dancing at the Elks.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Cora. He is survived by: a son, C. Robert and his wife Paula Ann Pricken of Shrewsbury, MA; a daughter, Caryl Matthews Luis and her husband Gary of Granite Bay, CA; four grandchildren, 2 great granddaughters and a sister, Joan L. Matthews of Manhasset, NY.
Friends may call at the church one hour before the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Charles’ name to: Season’s Hospice 1811 Greenview Place SW Suite 110 Rochester, MN 55902
Events
| Birth | 4 Apr 1920 | Long Island City, Queens, NY |  | ||
| Birth | 4 Apr 1920 | New York, NY | |||
| Marriage | 13 May 1944 | Fesenden, ND - Lutheran Church - Cora June Winsness | |||
| Death | 8 Aug 2010 | Auburn, MA |
Families
| Spouse | Cora June Winsness (1914 - 2003) |
| Child | Charles Robert Matthews |
| Child | Caryl Joan Matthews |
| Father | Charles August Matthews (1899 - 1970) |
| Mother | Walborg Holm (1902 - 1966) |
| Sibling | Joan Matthews |
Endnotes
1. Grande_Winsness.FTW.