Charles Ward Matthews

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Ileane H. Matthews; parents, Charles F. and Sammie Lee Matthews; and one brother, Brown Matthews.

Survivors include Charlie's wife, Elsie "Sissy" Smith Matthews; one daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Gary Mitchell; sister-in-law, Gelene Matthews; several nieces and nephews; step-children, Gene Smith (Melissa) and Bruce Smith (Robin); step-grandchildren, Allison Payne (Nicholas), Jim Smith, Emily Rateike (Clift), Brad Smith (Rebecca), and Isabella Smith; and step-great-grandchildren, Madison Payne and Norah Rateike.

Charlie founded Guardian-IPCO, Inc., a water treatment company, in 1972. He was a founding board member of the Association of Water Technologies and the original vendor liaison of the Alabama Hospital Association of Hospital Engineering. He also was a founder of the International Water Treatment Manufacturers Association.

Charlie served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He was a Mason and a member of the Cahaba #887 Masonic Lodge, where he served as Worshipful Master. He was an instructor of Masonic Degree work, and was a York Rite Mason and a Scottish Rite Mason.

Charlie was a Shriner and belonged to the Zamora Shrine Temple. He was involved in many Shriner organizations including the Flying Fez unit where he donated his time as a pilot and his aircraft to transport many burned and crippled children to various Shriner Hospitals for care and operations.

Charlie was a member of the Concordia Dance Club, The Club, Vestavia Senior Citizens Dance Club, and Lakeside Baptist Church.

The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2015 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home, Hwy 119 in Pelham, Alabama. The family will receive friends before the funeral at 12 noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, or visit www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.