She was born in Lincoln, Kansas, on October 6, 1929, to parents Willie C. and Georgia M. Olson. She grew up in a small two bedroom house with her two sisters on Johnstown Avenue in Salina, Kansas. She had a happy childhood, close to grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. Tragically, her older sister Gladys, a frail child, died during a summer heat wave in 1936 at the age of 8. Alfreda graduated from Salina High School in 1947. After high school, Inspired by an older cousin, she enrolled in the Trinity Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri, where she graduated in 1950.
She found employment in Menorah Hospital where a coworker and her husband introduced her to the love of her life, William L. Matthew. They were married in Salina, Kansas, on April 12, 1953. The couple moved into a newly built house in Prairie Village, Kansas, where they were to live together for the next 58 years. They joined the nearby Asbury United Methodist Church where they remained active throughout their lives.
The birth of their first son in 1954 leads to retirement from nursing to became a full time homemaker. As her three boys grew they successively joined Cub Scouts. She volunteered as Den Mother for Den 1 of Pack 3299. In 1965 the director of the new Asbury Preschool recruited her as a teacher and school nurse. She enjoyed the job very much, and as many teachers do, she spent as much time out of school in preparation as she did in the class room. She retired from the preschool in 1987 after 22 years.
The empty nest years brought participation in square dancing, round dancing and travel all over Europe and North America. She participated in groups like the Beacon Sunday School class, Johnson County Extension Club and the Keenagers senior social club. Alfreda lived a long life of service to her family, church and community. She will be dearly missed.
She is preceded in death by sisters Gladys Olson and Doris Smotherman, husband William L. Matthew and son Wesley D. Matthew. She is survived by sons Roger A. Matthew of Overland Park, Kansas and Randall K. Matthew of Overland Park, Kansas, daughter-in-law Rebecca Matthew of Salem, Virginia, and grandsons Jacob D. Matthew and his wife Abby of Prairie Village, Kansas, Adam D. Matthew of Portland, Oregon and John W. Matthew and his partner Lezly 'Bee' Colson of Roanoke, Virginia.
