Charles Matthews III ’44

Chuck Matthews died of cancer, which he had fought long and valiantly, on July 10, 1989, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings, Mont. Writing Bud Friesell in 1987, he said that his cancer had begun as lymphoma and then spread to the bladder. He never let it stop him. Painful arthritis curtailed his golf, but he "still beat the Upper Yellowstone River to a froth" fly fishing. In 1965, he was remarried, to Judy Dousman, of an old pioneering family of Montana. Both worked actively in local and Wisconsin historical societies. Their life was a delight.

Charlie prepared for Princeton at Lawrenceville, where he played varsity baseball and basketball. There, too, began his illustrious friendships with Friesell, Halsey Smith, and Pete Thomas, friendships they enlarged upon at Princeton. Chuck majored in geology and was a member of Cottage Club. He emerged a first lieutenant from 31/2 years of service in WWII, 18 months of which he spent in Europe. Charlie then began a career as a petroleum engineer, a career that was interrupted for 18 months by active duty in the Korean War. He worked for Carter Oil and Exxon before he became an independent landman operating out of Billings.

Chuck leaves his widow, two children by his first marriage—a daughter, Lane Phillips, and a son, Charles IV (Chad)—a sister, Gertrude Marvin, and a grandson. To them and his many friends the class extends its deepest sympathies.

The Class of 1944