Thomas Wayne Matthews

Native and life-long Austinite, 1958 graduate of Travis High School, Thomas (Tom) Matthews, age 84, of Austin, passed away at his home on June 25, 2024, following a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Tom was born in December 1939, to the late Robert Lee and Delta (Placke) Matthews in Austin. In 1964, he married the love of his life, Barbara Blackmon. Tom and Barbara were to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on August 14, 2024.

Tom proudly served in the National Guard following high school graduation and worked several jobs before joining IBM as one of its first Austin employees. He was a proud IBM employee for almost 28 years until his “first” retirement in December 1994. After a few years of employment at two Austin tech companies, Tom embarked on a successful vocation as an EBAY seller, until health conditions forced his second retirement. His beloved daughter-in-law, Leslie Matthews, admirably assumed the administration of the business and succeeded well beyond expectation.

Tom loved sports and coached his sons, Dewayne and Alan’s, baseball teams for ten years at Balcones Little League. Tom loved old cars – particularly cars from the 1950s that he grew up driving - golf, watching sports (especially the Texas Longhorns and Dallas Cowboys), country music, and spending time with his grandchildren. The annual family vacations to the Texas Gulf Coast created memories that we still talk about today.

Tom and Barbara fulfilled a dream in 1998 when they bought a lake house in Kingsland, Texas. Although it was a real fixer-upper, through hard work and determination, they turned it into a home that was so special to them. Some of Tom’s and Barbara’s best memories center around that lake house. It was there, in the beautiful Hill Country setting, that they enjoyed going out to eat, going to movies in Marble Falls, and watching their grandchildren enjoy the lake. Tom also loved the beauty of the Hill Country golf courses. Dewayne and Alan will forever cherish the memories from time spent on the golf course with their dad.

Humble, hard-working, soft-spoken, slow to anger, and a man of few words, Tom imparted words of wisdom to his wife, sons, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. His family is so thankful for the life lessons he taught all of us. Tom always put his family’s needs before his own and truly loved his grandchildren, Ann, Jenna, and Joe. His absence will be difficult for all of us.

Although Tom’s final months were difficult for the family, the compassionate care of the staff at Hospice Austin helped us navigate the challenges. We offer our heartfelt gratitude.

Tom is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Barbara Matthews of Austin; sons, Dewayne Matthews and wife Leslie of Round Rock and Alan Matthews of Austin; grandchildren, Ann Elizabeth Matthews, Jenna Blanche Matthews and Joe Everett Matthews, all of Round Rock; brothers, Pat Matthews of Georgetown and Donald Matthews of Comfort, TX; and sister, Dottie (Dorothy) Green of Austin, brother-in-law Norman Blackmon and wife Sharon of Austin, and Joe Allen Blackmon and wife Leona of Pflugerville.

The funeral service will be held on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville. Visitation will be held prior to the funeral service, at 1:00 Following the service, Tom will be laid to rest at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery.

To share words of comfort and memories of Tom with the family, please visit www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com.