1926
Robert
2016
Robert Mathews
March 25, 1926 — August 28, 2016
Robert (Bob) M Mathews
March 25, 1926 – August 28, 2016
Wife – Vivian K Mathews
Son – Scott Mathews
Daughter – Gail Locascio
Grandchildren:
Rosalind Locascio
Sarah Mathews
Paul Locascio
Keith Locascio
John Mathews
Grant Mathews
Great Grandchildren
Alice Dorsey
Born in Kansas City. Raised in Memphis, TN., and Kansas City. He graduated from Westport High school in 1944. Immediately after graduation he enlisted in the Navy and served as a radioman in a PBY gulf patrol bomber. He quipped many times over the years that the only foreign duty he pulled was being stationed in Texas. After the war he attended Junior college as a graphic artist and found work at Devine Lighting as a designer for lighting fixtures.
His drawings and layout plans were noticed by the architectural firm of Kivett and Myers. He was invited to work at the firm and to study architecture. He worked his way through the ranks and became a licensed and registered architect. His architectural career spanned 40 years and included tenure with Kivett and Myers, Manual Morris Architects, Terry Chapman Architects, Martel and Associates and finally Burns & McDonnell where he was the chief architect for the Special Projects Division. His primary focus was commercial buildings, hospitals and support buildings for airports. There are several of his office buildings scattered throughout Kansas City. In his career he traveled to many parts of the world including Saudia Arabia for an airport design.
He met the love of his life in 1949 at the Playmor Ice Skating rink. Bob and Vivian dated through 1949. After one long train trip to Omaha where they talked continuously about their hopes and dreams for the future, Bob proposed. They were married October 15, 1950 and shared a strong and loving commitment for 66 years.
Bob and Vivian had two children in their marriage. He liked to look at Vivian while telling the story of changed plans. They had planned to wait two years and then have two children at two years apart. Instead they had two children in their first two years of marriage and it was a 'bit' hectic. He would then get a little smile on his face while looking back in his memories and say, “I wouldn't change a thing”.
Bob and Vivian loved to travel and visited each of the 50 states. That was one of his proudest accomplishments. Their travels also included Canada, Nova Scotia and Mexico. Their favorite places were in the Colorado Rockies and that became a destination of choice on multiple family vacations.
Bob became very involved with the Boy Scouts of America during the 1950's and 1960's. He was a Cub Scout Pack Master, a Boy Scout Troop Leader and worked on the Eagle Board of Review for Kaw Council. He was invited and attended an adult Wood Badge training trek at Philmont Scout Ranch. During this training he drew the logo for his Owl squadron. His squad won 6 out of 8 competitions during the week because all the instructions were written in Morse code. While the other groups were deciphering the code, Dad just read it off like reading you or I would read English.
Dad was a voracious reader. He had a keen intellect and read continuously about current events, politics and architecture. He had a soft spot for mysteries, spy novels and detective novels. After retiring, he was reading 2 or 3 books a week. He passed that love of reading on to his children and would take us to the library weekly to encourage us.
Dad also loved music and had a fascination with drums. He had a massive collection of jazz records and listened to them constantly. His favorite artists were Buddy Rich, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, Benny Goodman and countless others. He loved listening to Glen Miller and the song String of Pearls. He also passed that love and appreciation of music along to his children.
There are two stories that summarize what kind of a man he was. He was one of the best. First is a story about a pair of autographed baseballs. When Dad was a boy, his father took him to see an exhibition game featuring the New York Yankees. He had two baseballs autographed by them. The first ball had the single signature of Babe Ruth which was a treasured keepsake. The second ball was signed by all of the Yankees. The famous Murderers Row. He kept these baseballs for years as prized possessions. Then it came to the day that he was teaching his son how to play baseball. How to catch and throw. The ball in use managed to get away and roll into a sewer. Dad never hesitated, playing a game of catch with his son was the most important thing there was. Into the house he went and he grabbed the baseball autographed by Murderers Row. We finished the day playing catch with that ball. It became grassed stained and the signatures were destroyed. Dad never flinched, it was an amazing day in the sun with his son.
The second story is about a little red tractor. He loved to tell this story of himself and we heard it many times over the years. Dad tells of a lazy Saturday when he was listening to the baseball game of the week. He was lounging on the couch with the windows open when he heard me and a friend start to tap on the tractor just outside the window. This was a regular thing as we liked to play mechanic. Dad had gotten tired of putting the wheels back on the tractor, so he had installed extra long cotter pins and had twisted them into knots. Dad listened to us work, Tap, Tap, Tap, Pound, Pound, Pound and then as clear as day he heard his son say: “I don't know Wayne, I can't get the sumbitch out of there.” Dad had to stuff his hand in his mouth to keep from laughing. When telling this story he would always laugh, shake his head and say: “Sounded just like me.”
That is the story I will miss most. Hearing him tell it and seeing the look on his face as he recalled a favorite memory. Love you Dad.
Scott Mathews,
August 29, 2016
March 25, 1926 – August 28, 2016
Wife – Vivian K Mathews
Son – Scott Mathews
Daughter – Gail Locascio
Grandchildren:
Rosalind Locascio
Sarah Mathews
Paul Locascio
Keith Locascio
John Mathews
Grant Mathews
Great Grandchildren
Alice Dorsey
Born in Kansas City. Raised in Memphis, TN., and Kansas City. He graduated from Westport High school in 1944. Immediately after graduation he enlisted in the Navy and served as a radioman in a PBY gulf patrol bomber. He quipped many times over the years that the only foreign duty he pulled was being stationed in Texas. After the war he attended Junior college as a graphic artist and found work at Devine Lighting as a designer for lighting fixtures.
His drawings and layout plans were noticed by the architectural firm of Kivett and Myers. He was invited to work at the firm and to study architecture. He worked his way through the ranks and became a licensed and registered architect. His architectural career spanned 40 years and included tenure with Kivett and Myers, Manual Morris Architects, Terry Chapman Architects, Martel and Associates and finally Burns & McDonnell where he was the chief architect for the Special Projects Division. His primary focus was commercial buildings, hospitals and support buildings for airports. There are several of his office buildings scattered throughout Kansas City. In his career he traveled to many parts of the world including Saudia Arabia for an airport design.
He met the love of his life in 1949 at the Playmor Ice Skating rink. Bob and Vivian dated through 1949. After one long train trip to Omaha where they talked continuously about their hopes and dreams for the future, Bob proposed. They were married October 15, 1950 and shared a strong and loving commitment for 66 years.
Bob and Vivian had two children in their marriage. He liked to look at Vivian while telling the story of changed plans. They had planned to wait two years and then have two children at two years apart. Instead they had two children in their first two years of marriage and it was a 'bit' hectic. He would then get a little smile on his face while looking back in his memories and say, “I wouldn't change a thing”.
Bob and Vivian loved to travel and visited each of the 50 states. That was one of his proudest accomplishments. Their travels also included Canada, Nova Scotia and Mexico. Their favorite places were in the Colorado Rockies and that became a destination of choice on multiple family vacations.
Bob became very involved with the Boy Scouts of America during the 1950's and 1960's. He was a Cub Scout Pack Master, a Boy Scout Troop Leader and worked on the Eagle Board of Review for Kaw Council. He was invited and attended an adult Wood Badge training trek at Philmont Scout Ranch. During this training he drew the logo for his Owl squadron. His squad won 6 out of 8 competitions during the week because all the instructions were written in Morse code. While the other groups were deciphering the code, Dad just read it off like reading you or I would read English.
Dad was a voracious reader. He had a keen intellect and read continuously about current events, politics and architecture. He had a soft spot for mysteries, spy novels and detective novels. After retiring, he was reading 2 or 3 books a week. He passed that love of reading on to his children and would take us to the library weekly to encourage us.
Dad also loved music and had a fascination with drums. He had a massive collection of jazz records and listened to them constantly. His favorite artists were Buddy Rich, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, Benny Goodman and countless others. He loved listening to Glen Miller and the song String of Pearls. He also passed that love and appreciation of music along to his children.
There are two stories that summarize what kind of a man he was. He was one of the best. First is a story about a pair of autographed baseballs. When Dad was a boy, his father took him to see an exhibition game featuring the New York Yankees. He had two baseballs autographed by them. The first ball had the single signature of Babe Ruth which was a treasured keepsake. The second ball was signed by all of the Yankees. The famous Murderers Row. He kept these baseballs for years as prized possessions. Then it came to the day that he was teaching his son how to play baseball. How to catch and throw. The ball in use managed to get away and roll into a sewer. Dad never hesitated, playing a game of catch with his son was the most important thing there was. Into the house he went and he grabbed the baseball autographed by Murderers Row. We finished the day playing catch with that ball. It became grassed stained and the signatures were destroyed. Dad never flinched, it was an amazing day in the sun with his son.
The second story is about a little red tractor. He loved to tell this story of himself and we heard it many times over the years. Dad tells of a lazy Saturday when he was listening to the baseball game of the week. He was lounging on the couch with the windows open when he heard me and a friend start to tap on the tractor just outside the window. This was a regular thing as we liked to play mechanic. Dad had gotten tired of putting the wheels back on the tractor, so he had installed extra long cotter pins and had twisted them into knots. Dad listened to us work, Tap, Tap, Tap, Pound, Pound, Pound and then as clear as day he heard his son say: “I don't know Wayne, I can't get the sumbitch out of there.” Dad had to stuff his hand in his mouth to keep from laughing. When telling this story he would always laugh, shake his head and say: “Sounded just like me.”
That is the story I will miss most. Hearing him tell it and seeing the look on his face as he recalled a favorite memory. Love you Dad.
Scott Mathews,
August 29, 2016
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