Hailing from Sanford, North Carolina, Bob Matthews, son of Guy and Myrtle Matthews, learned from working in his parents’ appliance store how to fix just about anything . In the 1950s his early SCUBA diving adventures helped to foster a lifelong love of the ocean. At UNC Chapel Hill, he met a petite blonde nursing student named Linda Waring, and the pair became a campus “item.” Following his father’s advice to be a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, Bob joined the Peace Corps, spending three years in Afghanistan as a teacher of Physical Education and English. Linda followed the handsome, blue-eyed, 6’1” Recreation major to Afghanistan, where she taught nursing skills. After they married, Bob and Linda traveled in a VW bug through Europe and southeast Asia from the Netherlands to India. Upon their return to the States, Bob worked with children at the NC Institute for the Deaf Dumb and Blind. He furthered his desire to help others by moving to Florida to be the Assistant State Director of the Special Olympics. Bob was especially proud of his work in designing handicap-accessible state parks throughout Florida. In the 70s he joined Unity Church, and while restoring an antique house, he and Linda started a farm in Gadsden County, where their first child, Douglas, was born. Doug’s sister Julie joined the family four years later.
When Douglas was old enough to start school, the family left their beautiful farmhouse behind and moved to Tallahassee. Bob went to work for the State of Florida and evolved to a computer programmer for the Department of Children and Families. Unfortunately, in the late 70s Bob fell victim to Multiple Sclerosis, which he battled for the next 39 years. Linda continued her nursing career, raised her two children to be independent thinkers, and became a determined runner. Tragically, cancer took her life in 1985. Bob became both mom and dad for Doug and Julie.
Whenever Bob had the opportunity, he explored coral reefs in ports from Jamaica to Grand Cayman Island and Hawaii to Key West. Many of these voyages were made with his new dive buddy, a teacher named Kathy Scott. From the time Douglas introduced them in 1991, the two found many interests to share, and they married in ‘96. Bob was always very supportive of Kathy’s career as teacher and administrator at Maclay School. At Maclay functions, he would introduce himself as “Mr. Dr. Scott.” After he retired from DCF and she from Maclay, they bought a condo in St. Pete Beach. There they enjoyed daily walks and taking photographs of the many birds that live on the island and the beautiful sunsets over the water.
Bob is survived by his wife Kathryn E. Scott, brother John Edward Matthews, sister Nancy Matthews Hall, daughter Julie Marie Matthews (Shelly Gregory), son Douglas Matthews (Laurel Boyett Matthews), and two granddaughters, Dorothy Marie and Amelia Baie Matthews. Many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles also survive him. He is remembered for his sense of humor, for the stories he loved to tell, and for his love of his family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Linda W. Matthews Research Fund (424227) at the University of North Carolina School of Nursing. Donations can be made online at https://give.unc.edu/Default.aspx?p=SONU or by mail to PO Box 309, Chapel Hill NC, 27514-0309.
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