He was born on April 14, 1933 in Kathleen, FL and grew up in Melbourne, FL with his family; parents John W. and Ola C. Mathews, brothers Buddy, John, and Jimmy Mathews, and sisters Nell Sumner and Dean Ditchfield, who all precede him in death.
Also preceding him in death is his wife of 58 years, Marcialese Pike Mathews. Frank was a loving husband and tireless and devoted caregiver to his wife in her last years as she battled illness and until her passing in 2015. Our family will forever be proud of the amazing care and love he has for our mother. We rejoice that they are once again together.
Frank is survived by many who love him dearly; Son, Butch Mathews(Sandy); Daughters: Candice Hess (Brian), and Karen Carraway; Grandchildren: Lindsay Carver(Scott), Kelsey Martin, Taylor Carraway, Connor Hess, and Sydney Mendoza(Edward); Great-Grandchildren: Sophie Martin, Oakes Martin, Finley Carver, Pike Carver, and Adela Mendoza. He will also be greatly missed by his loving Dachshund, Missy May, who brought him so much comfort in recent years.
Frank graduated from Melbourne HS in 1951 and followed that with a brief stint in a Civil Service role at Patrick AF Base before enlisting in the US Army in 1953. He served for 3 years as SFC before separating from Active Duty and entering the work force to begin his career in Civil Service with the Federal Government. Early opportunities at the Airforce Missile Test Center in Florida and the Army Ballistic Missile Agency in Huntsville, AL would lead him to meeting the love of his life; Marcialese Pike Mathews. They were married in September of 1957. He rounded out his career with a 5 year stint at the Nasa Manned Space Craft Center in Houston, TX and 14 years with the Environmental Protection Agency in Raleigh, NC, where he retired in 1981.
He loved music and was an accomplished musician. He played trombone in the HS Band and later moved to the clarinet after joining the band while he was enlisted in the Army. In 1975 he joined the US Army National Guard and was a proud member of the 440th Army National Guard Band until retiring in 1993. He travelled all over the country and world representing the USA and playing music for scores of people. This was the closest thing to a ’hobby’ for dad and he also enjoyed playing the piano at home with his wife Marcia.
Frank was raised in the Church of God but was later baptized in 2015 at the Brooks Avenue Church of Christ; after attending the church with his family since arriving in Raleigh in 1967. After losing his wife he found so much enjoyment and comfort from his friends and church family at Brooks Avenue. The church retained a special place in his life even after he could no longer attend. He never missed tuning in to hear a Sunday sermon on his laptop.
The Mathews family received friends Monday, December 22, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon, at Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27612, with a funeral service in the Mitchell Funeral Home Chapel following. Interment was in Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27612.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request that a donation be made in his honor to the Brooks Avenue Church of Christ, by using the link below, under 'Donations'.
If you would like to leave a favorite memory/story of Frank, or a message of condolence for his family, you may do so below, within "Add a Memory."
