William "Bill" D. Mathews

Bill was born in Los Angeles, California, where he spent most of his formative years. After years of moving around with his father Earl, they spent time living in Chester, CA before finally settling in Hawthorn, NV, where he attended Mineral County High School. After high school he proudly joined the US Marine Corps and served honorably in Vietnam. After his time in the Marines, he went back to school and earned his bachelor’s degree. During this time, he also had a career working closely with the military as a part of the DOD until he retired as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

He continued to work hard and built a career in Real Estate. His first year as a realtor he was awarded rookie of the year. He would eventually become a Real Estate Broker and open his own company. As a broker he was able to honestly consult with his clients about the cost of a home vs. their budget and would not sell them a home they could not afford at that point in time.

Bill met his wife Lilian while he was in the Philippines. They married in 1982 and went on to have 2 children together, Crystal and Jeffrey. They recognized that they were blessed to spend 42 years together and that they owe it all to their shared faith in Jesus.

No one who has ever known Bill would question how much he loved Jesus, his family, friends and church family. He served at church in different capacities over the years, as a deacon, leading men’s ministries and singing in the choir. He also volunteered his time by helping many veterans through the process of obtaining the benefits they had earned.

He had few friends that became family, of those few are Kip and Cindy Brantley. It wasn’t long before he became and remained Uncle bill to their children. For 30 years both families weathered many of life’s ups and downs together.

He would also eventually meet Dan and Esther Mayes. Dan was more than a best friend and brother to Bill; he was also a fellow Marine. They talked daily and spent much of that time talking about God, church, their families, their time in the military and life in general.

Bill spent a lot of his life traveling around the world thanks to the Military/DOD and continued traveling the country with his wife and family until the last several years of his life. He also enjoyed camping, fishing, watching football and old westerns, working on his dad’s old truck and eventually would add and greatly enjoy BBQ and smoking meats to his hobbies. His love for camping led him to start the non-profit club NATCOA (North American Truck Owners Association) which is still active and growing to this day.

Bill is survived by his wife Lilian; his children William Jr., Crystal (husband Steven), and Jeffrey; his grandchildren William III (wife Rotem), Joshua, and Keeanna; his sister Laura; Step-sisters Twyla and Susan along with other step-siblings; Mother-In-Law Bienvinida (Frank), and Sisters-In-Law Connie, Dina and Remer (husband David), as well as many Filipino family members back in the Philippines; and extended family Kip and Cindy and their children Chris, Cassie.

Funeral services will be held for Bill, at 10:30am on Friday, March 7th, 2025 at Rivertown Church, 3044 San Pablo Road, South, Jacksonville, FL 32224; with Pastor Dan Adams officiating. Followed by a reception at the church. Graveside services and committal in Jacksonville National Cemetery, at 2:00pm with Marine Honors.