Fain Matthews

After high school, he joined the Air Force in 1948 and was an airborne radar instructor for his four year enlistment. Gene met and married the love of his life, Patricia Ann Andress, in Biloxi First Baptist Church in Mississippi. They were married for nearly 72 years.

Gene is survived by Patricia, his three daughters Victoria, Constance and Lauren; four grandchildren Alyssa, Alex, Erin and Nicole; five great grandchildren Presley Faith, Daniel James, Palmer Grace, Farrah Hope, and Rylinn Haisley.

Gene’s education and experience was in airborne radar, ground control approach radar with Gilfillan as a field engineer in England, research assistant for General Atomic in La Jolla, and eventually formed his own corporation ESI, Inc. in 1986 with Patricia. Additionally, Gene loved to study, prepare and teach Bible study lessons in church and in-home groups; sharing his faith and love for his Lord Jesus Christ and attempting to infuse or clarify the Bible and science.

He took great pleasure in telling people that he was McDonald’s oldest living employee. He worked for the original founders of McDonald’s in San Bernardino, Dick and Maurice, at the ‘real’ original store; washing dishes and preparing french fries at 50 cents an hour, and all the malts he could drink!

A memorial service for Fain will be held Thursday, September 28, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at McAulay & Wallace Mortuary, 902 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92832.