Norman “Jack” Rountree Matthews, 92, died March 8, 2009, at Sentara Obici Hospital.
Born in Suffolk, Va., he was the son of the late Margaret H. and Edward Eugene Matthews, Sr., widower of Mary Jean Stowe Matthews and brother of the late Dorothy M. Parker, Edward E. Matthews, Jr., and Jesse T. Matthews. Mr. Matthews was an Air Force Veteran of WW II, the recipient of the Purple Heart for wounds received on April 9, 1942 and the recipient of The Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement from Jan. 1, 1942 to Sept. 5, 1945. He survived the Bataan Death March and was then a POW in Japan for 42 months. He retired from the United States Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant, after 27 years of service. Mr. Matthews was a member of Liberty Spring Christian Church and was retired from the City of Suffolk as a building inspector.
Survivors include his daughters, Luellen Matthews of Washington, DC and Jacquelin Young, Ashburn, Va.; grandchildren, Daniel J. Young, Jordan E. Young.
The family will receive friends in the R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory on Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., 509 W Washington Street, Suffolk 23434
Burial will be Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at 9 a.m. in Arlington National Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National POW Museum, 496 Cemetery Road, Andersonville, GA, 31711.
Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.