Will Weldon Mathews, 72, of Las Cruces, NM, formerly of Lawrence Co., Ind., died at his residence on May 1, 2015. He was born March 1, 1943, in Indianapolis, he was the son of Russell B. Mathews and Ethela Gail Fields Mathews.
He married Gail Jackson on Sept. 14, 1991, and she survives.
He was a graduate of Shawswick High School with the Class of 1961. He held a mechanical engineering degree from GMI and an MBA from Indiana University, he worked for Powertrain (GM), Bedford, Cummins, in Columbus, Ind. and Navistar, Indianapolis. He was a member of University Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM. He was an avid airplane pilot, belonging to AOPA (Airplane Owners Pilot Assn.) and Eaa (Experimental Aircraft Assn.) He held 23 U.S. and Foreign patents and was a National Championship Air Race Winner, twice, in Reno, NV.
Surviving are his wife, Gail Mathews, Las Cruces, NM; one daughter, Christine (Tibor) Mathews-Kiss, Manitou Springs, Colo.; grandchildren, Victoria and Steven Mathews-Kiss and Harley and MacKenzie Mathews; two sisters, Ada Helen (Gordon) Terry, Oakland, Tenn. and Ann Walden, Brazil, Ind.; two brothers, Henry “Hank” ( Sharon) Mathews, Huron and John (Martha) Mathews, Norman, Ind. and numerous nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Will Weldon “Buddy” Mathews III and Douglas Mathews; grandparents, Henry and Alma (Root) Fields and Will and Lyda (Smith) Mathews; brother-in-law Lester “Les” Walden and two sisters-in-law, Sue Mathews and Betty Shahan.
Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 9, 2015, at Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home, Bedford, with Pastor John Paulson officiating. Burial will be in Leatherwood Cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2015, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be considered to Indiana University Organ Transplants; Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis; or Leatherwood Cemetery Assoc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fergusonlee.com.
