Milledge (Matt) R Matthews, Jr

Milledge R. (Matt) Matthews, Jr. left this life on January 26 2022 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Bakersfield, Ca. of complications of Pulmonary Fibrosis. His wife of 63 years and his beloved daughter Donna was by his side.

He was born to Bessie (Ertzberger) and Milledge R. Matthews Sr. in Toccoa, Georgia on April 22, 1937, eighth of 12 children. He had 9 sisters and two brothers.

The family moved to Greenville South Carolina when Matt was 5 and he attended schools there. He worked as many jobs as was available beginning at 8-9 years old. To help out with the large family, he delivered papers, helped in a dairy, delivered groceries and worked in a woolen mill among other things. At 17, he joined the South Carolina National Guard (without parental consent). When that was discovered, he was discharged and given the options of dishonorable discharge or enlist for active duty WITH parental consent. Those who knew him would know his choice. In Dec. 1954 he enlisted in the USAF.

After basic training, his first base was Altus AFB in Altus, OK. There he began his training in sheet metal/airframes with the 96 ^th Bomb Wing. He met and married Nita Zane Johns and in 1957 they welcomed a daughter, Rhoda Zane. The marriage dissolved after the 96 ^th was transferred to Dyess AFB in Abilene Texas in late 1957.

While stationed in Abilene he met Mary Jane Miller and they were married in 1959. They were blessed with two children, Donna and then Steven. In 1961 they were transferred to Hill AFB in Ogden, UT, where they stayed until 1964.  Next stop was Bentwaters/Woodbridge Royal Air Force Base in the U.K. then in 1967 they returned to the states to Kirkland, AFB in Albuquerque, NM.

In January 1968, Matt was honorably discharged from the USAF and started another career at LTV Corp, in Grand Prairie TX. Makers of the A-7 aircraft. His position there changed over time and for a while he was a plane captain on the flight line, then a member of the Mod team which took him to Florida, South Carolina, Arizona and California. In California he worked as a contractor and then as Tech Rep for the A-7. In late 1981 he and his wife along with 4 other couples were sent to Portugal to work with the Portuguese Air Force and their A-7's. They returned in 1983 to Point Mugu in CA. In 1984 he returned to Lisbon Portugal to work with the Portuguese Air Force's top general. In 1985 he returned to California and took a job with civil service working at WSL China Lake. During this time in his life he joined the Navy Reserve and spent 8 years completing his military time for retirement. He retired from civil service in 1998. After a few years retirement he went to work part time for SA-TECH as a contractor, again at WSL. In 2010 he took the position of Program Manager for METI, who had won the contract at WSL. He spent the next five years in that position. In 2015, he said "I'm Done" and retired again.

Matt spent his entire working career working for the U.S. Government in some capacity. He never met a stranger and would tackle any problems he might encounter. His work motto was: IF IT'S DIFFICULT, IT'S IMMEDIATE, IF IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, IT TAKES A LITTLE LONGER!!

After his retirement, he & Jane finished an item in their bucket list and completed their travels, visiting every state. They did so in their RV except for Hawaii and Alaska, which was done by cruises. Matt loved fishing and especially deep-sea fishing with his daughter Donna. He also enjoyed watching old western movies.

He is survived by Jane, his wife of 63 years, of Ridgecrest, his daughter, Donna (William Van Hook) of Port Hueneme, sister Marilyn Wilson of Taylors, South Carolina, sister Joyce Roth of Carleton, Georgia, 7 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and a host of neighbors & friends. He will be missed by all.

Viewing and visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:30, service beginning at 2:30 on Friday, February 4, 2022 at Holland-Lyons Mortuary in Ridgecrest. He will be cremated and ashes will be at the Bakersfield National Cemetery at a date to be determined. A reception will follow from 4:30 to 6:30 at the Maturango Museum, Coso Room.