Gene 'Football' Matthews, 79, Dies

Gene “Football” Matthews, 79 of Dallas, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Tranquility at Kennesaw Mountain.

Gene was born on Aug. 19, 1934 in Dallas, to loving parents the late Woodford Grady Matthews and Jessie Crowder Matthews. He was also preceded in death by three brothers Henry Matthews, Alfred Matthews, and Wayne Matthews; two sisters Ruby Thomason and an Infant sister.

Gene worked at General Motors as an Attendance Coordinator for UAW. He was heavily involved with the Union Assembly Workers at GM. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas. He was a devoted family man who loved hunting, fishing, gardening, and Georgia Bulldogs Football.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years Mrs. Bennie Ruth Matthews of Dallas; four children Mr. & Mrs. Ricky (Patty) Matthews of Hiram, Ms. Linda Matthews of Overland Park, KS, Mr. & Mrs. Robbie (Karen) Bacon of Bostwick, FL, and Mr. & Mrs. Mark (Michelle) Matthews of Norman, IN; four step children Mr. & Mrs. Dave (Faye) Hartley of Bowling Green, KY, Mr. Alfred Matthews of Union Pt, GA, Mr. & Mrs. Jack (Martha) Lannen of McDonough, GA, and Mr. Steve Matthews of Chapel Hill, TN; fourteen grandchildren, seven step grandchildren, many other great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, three brothers Mr. John Matthews of Dallas, Mr. Guy Matthews of Clinton, AK, and Mr. Doug Matthews of Cumming, GA; two sisters Mrs. Betty Jo Temple of British Columbia, Canada, and Mrs. Jane Mathis of Marietta, GA; and many other beloved friends.

Funeral services for Mr. Matthews will be held in the Chapel of Jeff Eberhart Funeral Home on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. with Reverend Jimmy Tibbitts and Reverend Thomas Cole officiating. Alfred Matthews, Steve Matthews, Brett Matthews, David Matthews, Mark Matthews, and Jon Matthews will serve as pallbearers with Bill Atcheson serving as honorary pallbearer. Interment will follow at Shady Grove Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 21, from 9 a.m. until the funeral hour.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Shady Grove Cemetery and the Alzheimers Association (www.alz.org).

Please join the family in honoring his life by visiting www.jeffeberhartfuneralhome.com to sign the register book and share a memory.

Jeff Eberhart Funeral Home of Dallas, is honored to serve the family of Mr. Gene “Football” Matthews.