Benvenuto Gilbert Matley – husband, father, grandfather, educator, naval aviator, electrical engineer and computer science pioneer – died peacefully on Friday, September 18, 2015 in Vancouver, Washington following a brief illness. He was 85.
Ben entered the Navy in 1949 as an enlisted man, then became an officer and earned his wings. He served as a pilot in attack squadron VA-42, the “Green Pawns”, aboard the Midway, Cabot, Forrestal, Bennington and other carriers.
In 1956, Ben left active duty to earn his degree at San Diego State College where he met his wife, Patricia McWilliams Matley. Over a decade he worked for several aerospace companies on defense projects, such as the Minuteman, Atlas and AR-71, while earning his MBA from the University of Southern California. He taught data processing, computer science, engineering and mathematics at Ventura Community College in Ventura, CA. He earned his Doctorate in Education from Nova University.
Ben was an IEEE distinguished speaker, author of numerous books and articles on many subjects and an internationally recognized expert on national computer policies.
He is survived by his wife, Pat; his six children, Elizabeth, Kathy, John, Stephen, Richard and David; his twelve grandchildren, Alexis, Matthew, Sarah, Amanda, Brad, Carrie, Joey, Daniel, Rebecca, Samantha, Soleil and Evaleigh; his great-grandson, James; his two sister, Rita and Theresa; and his two brother, Marcel and Charles.
Ben will be interred at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.
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