William C. “Bill” Mathews Sr.

February 21, 2017 Last Updated: February 21, 2017 11:00 AM Death Notice

William C. “Bill” Mathews Sr., 85, of Valencia went home to the Lord on Thursday at Butler Memorial Hospital, encircled by his loving family.

Born Oct. 17, 1931, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Joseph N. Mathews and the late Marie Ida Beirnesser Mathews and stepson of the late Jane Wright Brooks Mathews.

Bill attended Mars High School, where he met the love of his life, Nancy Caryl Irwin, who he married in 1951. Together they started a journey of love, hospitality, hard work and solid family values that have grown to include innumerable friends, children and grandchildren, both born to them and “adopted” by them. Their big house and grounds are known to many as the Party Place.

Bill was the founder and owner of William C. Mathews Excavating. His work ethic was legendary and he instilled those values in his children and grandchildren. Since his retirement he has dedicated himself to being the best Pap any child could ask for.

Bill is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nancy Irwin Mathews; their children, Nancy Lee (Joseph Uhrlacher) Wirtz, Stephanie (Jeffrey) Mowen, Mary Kay (Mark) Dods, Melinda (Robert) Brown, William (Patricia) Mathews Jr., all of Valencia; 16 grandchildren, Shiloh (Michael) Reynolds, Corey Wirtz, Charity (Patrick) O'Leary, Ryan (Heather) Wirtz, Chelsea (William Liberto) Merriman, Kara (Kenneth) Brown, Crystal (Joseph) Krepin, Miranda (Matthew) Brooks, Andrew (Melissa) Brown, Matthew (Lauren) Brown, Gabriel (Jessica) Mowen, Timothy Wirtz, Jonathan (Abbey) Brown, Jacquelyn (Alex) McGraw, Sasha Mathews and Grant Mathews; and 28 great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are a sister, Florine Burr; a brother, Ronald (Linda) Mathews; a stepsister, Doris Scott; a stepbrother, Donald Brooks; and many nieces and nephews and countless “adopted” family members.

He was preceded in death by his granddaughter-in-law, Rebecca Howes Wirtz; his brother, Joseph Mathews; his sisters, Mildred Campbell, Darlein Durso, Marie Cassell; and his stepsister, Shirley Trapp.

MATHEWS — Family of William C. “Bill” Mathews Sr., who died Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, will welcome friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Schellhaas Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 5864 Heckert Road, Bakerstown.Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown, Route 8 at 5825 Heckert Road, Bakerstown, with the Rev. Paul Becker officiating.In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Hosanna Industries, 109 Rinard Lane, Rochester, PA 15074 or First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown, P.O. Box 127, Bakerstown, PA 15007. Please offer condolences at www.schellhaasfh.com.