Obituary of Craig Lee Matthews

Mr. Craig Lee Matthews, 84, beloved husband of Kim Elizabeth Buehrle Matthews, passed away Monday, March 25, 2024, at Aiken Regional Medical Center following a brief illness.

Craig was born on October 8th, 1939, in Bluefield, West Virginia to parents John Fredrick Matthews and Eleanor Dunn Matthews. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from East Tennessee State University and proudly served in the Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis while being stationed in London, England. After returning home from the war and receiving his degree, he worked for 25 years with the Ford Motor Company retiring as a superintendent. After retiring, he could not remain idle and went to work for the Windsor Mold Company in Bellevue, Ohio as quality liaison for several years, followed by a move to the Midway Products Group in Midway, Michigan.

He retired again in 2006 and moved with his wife to Aiken, SC where they enjoyed being active in the Cedar Creek community. He was a member of the Golf Association of Cedar Creek and participated in several tournaments with the GACC. He and his wife were members of the Euchre Card Group, and he spent time in fellowship and learning as a member of the Aiken Men's Lunch Group. Craig was also a member of the Elks Lodge 285 in Sandusky, Ohio where he served as a past Exalted Ruler. He was a parishioner at St. Mary Help of Christian Catholic Church, and he and his wife celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on March 23, 2024.

Quick with a joke, Craig had a comment or quip for everything. Hanging out with his “young” golf buddies, he was the first to tee up a joke about being older than Moses or remembering when dirt was invented. His conversation skills were unmatched, as he could talk to anyone and would have a new friend by the end of that first chat. He was the kind of neighbor you wanted, an amateur handyman who could help install a new fan, do a bit of carpentry or assist with an electrical problem, while only accepting conversation or a drink at the end of the job as payment. He loved to chase the sun and never let his fair skin get in the way of enjoying a beautiful day on the golf course or out in his yard. His humor and spirit will be missed by all those lucky enough to have known him.

Craig is survived by his beloved wife, Kim Elizabeth Matthews of Aiken, SC, his daughter, Marybeth Adkins of Norton, VA, his sons Chris Matthews of Sandusky, OH, Todd Matthews of Silver Lake, OH, and Travis (Brittany) Seagert of Ball Ground, GA, his son-in-law Marty Adkins of Norton, VA, his sisters Frances (David) Wall of Abingdon, VA, and Catherine Gillespie of Orange, VA, as well as his three grandchildren and one great-grandson.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, April 25th, 2024, at 11:00am at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, 138 Fairfield Street, SE, Aiken, SC 29801 in Aiken, SC with the Very Rev. Richard Wilson as celebrant.

Interment with military honors will take place at 2:00pm On Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road Columbia, SC 29229.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to FOTAS, 333 Wire Road, Aiken, SC 29801.

The Historic George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803) 649-6234 has charge of arrangements.

Online expressions of sympathy for the family may be left by visiting www.georgefuneralhomes.com.