Lawrence "Larry" Matthews

Lawrence "Larry" Henry Matthews, 91, died from COVID-19 on October 2, 2024.

Larry was born January 17, 1933, in Chicago, to Henry and Barbara (Seifert) Matthews. He graduated from the Fournier Institute (1950) and Loyola University with honors in English literature (1954). He served in the U.S. Army (1955-57).

He taught sixth grade at St. Bernard Catholic School and courses on The Great Books; he was Assistant Superintendent of Catholic Schools. He led the Diocesan Council of Catholic Men and was twice named Layman of the Year by the National Council. Trained in Kansas City, Larry served as rector of Cursillo #1 in Peoria. He wrote and edited educational materials for the J.G. O'Brien Company. After administering continuing education programs, he retired in 1988, from the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Larry was a champion for civil rights, traveling to the March on Washington in 1963 with a group of Peoria-area ministers and formed the Catholic Interracial Council. He also served as the President of the Peoria-area ACLU and on the boards of the Mental Health Association, Planned Parenthood and Tri-County Urban League. His favorite volunteer efforts were tutoring GED students at CommonPlace and serving as a nursing home ombudsman.

His broad interests included etymology, genetics, listening to and playing music, medieval studies, stamp collecting, "boating," walking and tennis, watching the Bears when it didn't make him too nervous, and reading anything he could find in his public library. He completed the Sunday crossword in ink throughout his life. He didn't care much for small talk but loved simple things—sitting on the porch, playing ball with his dog, Blarney, and his wife's good cooking.

He married Mary Frances Bath in 1955. They had eight children who survive: Therese Matthews (Mike Dayton), Peter Matthews (Sherrie Emoto), Frances Matthews (John Weitekamp), Joseph Matthews (Karen Fiorino), Kathleen (Jim) Faloon, and Paul (Lisa) Matthews, Pat Matthews (Steve Kelley) and Rebecca (Tony) Rubiera; 21 grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren. He married Mary Therese (Terry) Galvin 42 years ago; she survives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother George, sister Marie Kupec, and grandson Caleb. He donated his body to Loyola's Stritch School of Medicine through the Anatomical Gift Association of Illinois.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11 am, on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at the Universalist Unitarian Church, 3000 W. Richwoods Blvd. in Peoria. Visitation will be one hour prior to his service also at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Planned Parenthood or his church Trust. Mason-White Funeral Home in Washington has been entrusted with arrangements.