Franklin William Matthews, III

Franklin William Matthews, III Bill Franklin William Matthews, III (just plain Bill) died on March 23, 2013 from complications of ALS. Bill was born March 21, 1936 in Ogden, Utah, the first child of Franklin William Matthews, Jr. And Margaret Mae Hoggan Matthews. He grew up in the wonderful town of Boise, Idaho, and graduated from Boise High School in 1954. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1959 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Science. He also graduated from the University of Utah with a MBA in 1970. Bill met his eternal companion, Janice Louise Nelson, at BYU; they were married in the Salt Lake Temple, January 4, 1957. They had four great children. Bill enjoyed all sports, especially football and track and field. He played guard and tackle for the BHS Beavers, and guard and linebacker for the BYU Cougars for three years. He threw the shot put and discus in high school, setting a regional record in the shot put that lasted four years. He was an ardent BYU sports fan (especially football) all his life. Bill was employed throughout his life in the aerospace industry and was proud to have worked on most of the solid and liquid fuel rocket motors that are used in the USA defense and space efforts. During his career he worked initially for Rocketdyne and General Dynamics Astronautics, but he mostly worked for Hercules, Inc. The last seventeen years at Hercules he was in the graphite space structures, area, this was the highlight of his career. His best memories were of the wonderful people he got to work with. Bill was active in Scouting most of his life, having received his Eagle Badge at seventeen. He attended two national Jamborees and served in leadership positions for the next twenty-five years. As an adult, Bill was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bill had the opportunity to serve in many positions in the LDS Church throughout his life. Those positions included MIA, Sunday School, ward clerk, Cubmaster, Bishopric, Bishop and the High Priest group leader (three different times). He also was a Stake High Counselor and Stake Clerk. Most of his spare time was filled with family and camping throughout Utah and Idaho, they were high on his list of favorite places. The family has especially enjoyed its many outings to Redfish Lake in the majestic Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho for the past 47 years. He liked to whittle around the campfire and after retirement turned this into a little business, carving small figures-mostly Santas, which he both sold and gave away. He carved almost 600 figures over a 20-year span. He was an ardent reader especially in retirement and when his mobility was reduced. One year he was finishing a book every two days. Bill considered the best parts of his life were his dear wife and their family, his church experiences, testimony and all the wonderful friends he made along the way. He leaves, temporally, the light of his life , his wife, Janice and their four, fantastic, children: Calene (Darrell) Cook, Joseph (Jo) Matthews, Stewart (Lauri) Matthews and DeAnn Matthews. He also leaves 6 wonderful grandchildren and 5 especially wonderful great-grandchildren. He also bids farewell to his two sisters: Vicki (Don) Burwell and Fran (Hank) Stevens. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Ellison M Matthews. Funeral services will be Wednesday, March 27, 2013, 11:00 am. at the Summerhill Stake Center, 12120 South 1300 West. Viewings will be Tuesday, 6-8 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road and Wednesday at the church 10-10:45 a.m. Interment, Herriman City Cemetery. Hobbies:All sports, especially football and track & field; was an ardent BYU sports fan;carving and being with family and friendsOccupation:Mechanical Engineer