Merle E. Mathews

Merle E. Mathews, a resident of the Alcoves at Fairhaven, passed on to his next great road trip on Sunday, September 9, 2012.

Merle was born to Paul B. Mathews and Arleta M. (Smith) Mathews on January 21, 1935 in rural Marseilles, Ohio. He was married to Jeannette (Fackler) Mathews, his wife of 55 years, having been married on May 3, 1957 in Nevada, Ohio where they lived for many years before moving to Hurricane, WV, Brunswick, OH and finally to Upper Sandusky.

Surviving along with Jeannette are his daughter, Julie (Randy) Burks of Upper Sandusky, two sons, Doug (Tammy) Mathews and David (Cindy) Mathews, all of Harrisonburg, VA, four grandchildren, Jacob (Stephanie) Burks, of Findlay, OH, Alissa Burks of Columbus, OH, Paige Mathews of Harrisonburg, VA, and Ethan Mathews of Harrisonburg, VA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Rebecca Mount, and a son Michael E. Mathews.

Merle was a graduate of Harpster High School in 1953, He also attended Eden and Nevada Schools where he was a basketball player. He did farm work as a young man, worked at Mills Metal in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and Bucyrus Blades before becoming a truck driver for CF, the former Consolidated Freightways of Mansfield and retired from Yellow Freight where he earned a 2 Million Miler award for 20 consecutive years without an accident. He was a proud member of the Teamsters Union.

Merle was an Ohio Reservist having served in the Marine Corps, a volunteer fireman of Nevada, a member of the Masonic Lodge both in Bucyrus and Nevada. The Elks BPOE #83, and his beloved Amvets Post #777.

He will be remembered by his family for his seeming ability to know everyone in Wyandot County, their spouses, children, and cousins. He loved to tell anyone the story behind "Hockameyer Day" at the fair.

There will be no visitation and a private burial will be held at a later date at Nevada Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Merle's name to the Wounded Warriors Project, the Upper Sandusky Library or the Hospice of Wyandot County in care of the Lucas-Batton Funeral Home 476 S. Sandusky Ave. Upper Sandusky, Ohio 43351.

"10-24: Going to home 20: Scrap Iron, Over and Out"