Robert W. Mathews

ATHOL, MA — Robert W. “Bob” Mathews, 86, of South Main Street passed away at the Athol Hospital on Thursday, February 29, 2024, following a brief illness. He leaves the love of his life, fiancee Jeannette Morlock. 

Robert “Bob” Matthews was born on August 4, 1937 in Gardner, MA to Raymond C. Matthews and the former Maxine A. Prim, the first of four sons to be born to the couple. Bob was a member  of the Athol High School graduating class of 1956. He was married to the former Janet Sawin in 1961, they were married 39 years. They went on to have three sons: Robert, Jr. “Robbie” (who died in 1985 at the age of 23), Ronald “Ronnie”, and Russell “Rusty” (who live with his mother until his unexpected passing on January 12, 2024 from natural causes, just three weeks shy of his 60th birthday. 
Following graduation and marriage, Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force on May 16, 1958. His last name was erroneously misspelled on his military records, missing the second “t”, and remained that way for the rest of his life. Throughout his Air Force career, he received orders for several deployments, and some of them required moving his young family to such diverse places as: Thailand, the Philippines, North Turro and King Salmon, Alaska, where he was a Staff Sargent and Air Traffic Control supervisor. He then retired after 20 years of service on May 31, 1978. Following his military service career, he worked at H & R company in Gardner, MA retiring after 18 years. 

In the year 2001, at a Singles Dance in NH, he met Jeannette Morlock (coincidently also from Athol), and that relationship has resulted in their happy, prolonged, engagement for the past 24 years, living on South Main Street in Athol. Bob was a life-long flea marketer and rarely missed a Sunday at Rietta Ranch or Brimfield or other flea market venues. He also enjoyed going dancing and eating out in fine restaurants. Bob also belonged to the Athol American Legion for 56 years. Bob also sang with the Singing Men of Athol until it disbanded. He served on the Vacant and Abandoned Building committee for the town of Athol until it disbanded. Bob took special pride in working around his yard, fixing things and doing the flowerbeds to please Jeannette. He liked to read books and watch movies.

 In addition to his two sons, Bob was also predeceased by his father in 1967 at the age of 58, and his mother in 2004 at the age of 86. He is survived by his son, Ronald of Costa Rica, and two granddaughters, Holly Mae and Heather Lynn. He is also survived by his three brothers: Raymond, Jr. (Pat) of Maine, Roland (Juli) of Athol, and Richard (Lynn) also of Athol. Nieces and nephews: David, Lisa, Roland, Jr. (Tammy), Breanna (Matt), Kelsey (Nick), and great-niece Alexie, great-nephews: Justin and (Jordan).  He also leaves a few close cousins on his mother’s and father’s side who will miss him.

Calling hours will be Friday, March 8, 2024 from 11:30am -12:30 am at  Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Road, Orange, MA 01364 with a funeral to follow at Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home. 

Bob will be laid to rest with full military honors at the Massachusetts Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon, MA following the funeral service. 

A Celebration of Life will follow the burial at 3:00 at the King Phillip Restaurant, 35 State Road, Phillipston, MA 

To leave an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor, and Melissa A. McQuaid, Funeral Directors