Kenneth
Kenneth Glover Mathews
d. August 19, 2016
Abingdon, VA- Kenneth Glover Mathews, a former coach, principal and member of the Washington County Board of Supervisors, died Friday August 19. 2016 in an Indianapolis hospital due to complications from a stroke suffered in July. He was 91.
Ken, a longtime resident of Abingdon, was preceded in death in 2014 by Betsy, his wife of 66 years. A native of Covington, Va., he served with the Flying Tigers during World War II in China, Burma and India. He was a graduate of the University of Virginia. Ken moved his family to Abingdon in 1953 when he was hired to be the football coach at William King High School. At the conclusion of his prep career at Abingdon High School, his gridiron teams won several District 7 titles and finished with a combined record of 51 wins, 30 losses and 8 ties. He also coached baseball at William King and Abingdon High, his squads posting 106 wins. For two seasons, Ken was an assistant football coach at Emory Henry College.
He earned a masters degree at Radford College and returned to Abingdon High in 1976 as principal. In 2004, Ken was inducted into the AHS Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2013, he and Betsy were honored at a surprise birthday party at the Higher Education Center in Abingdon that was organized by several of his former players.He enjoyed going to casinos and horse-racing tracks. After retirement, Ken and Betsy enjoyed playing numerous golf courses in the Abingdon area.
Ken is survived by two sons, Garret (MaryAnne) of Carmel, Ind., and Dan (Kim) of Abingdon; three grandsons, Adam (Amanda) of Abingdon, Colin (Rachael) of Indianapolis, and Evan of Singapore; two great-grandsons, Gavin and Benjamin; step-great-granddaughters, Madisyn and Emma; and special friend, Peggy Johnson.
The family would like to thank the staff at Summer Trace in Carmel for their kindness during Kens stay there this year as well as the doctors and nurses at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.
Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Tuesday August 23, 2016 at the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon. Graveside Service will follow at 4:00 p.m., in Forest Hills Memory Gardens with Rev. Ellie Scofield officiating. Pallbearers will be, Ronnie Osborne, Byrd Preston, Curt Campbell, Chick Wagner, Les Burke, Gary Neal, and Adam Mathews. Honorary pallbearers will be Ed Legard, Jim Butt, Charles Chippy Smith, Howard Duncan, Floyd Branscomb, Jerry Davis, Paul Clark, James Crow Clark, Lynn Price, James Eyes Castle and all other former athletes, as well as the men who played on teams Ken Mathews coached in the 1950s and 1960s, first at William King and later at Abingdon High School.
Those wishing to share memories and express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com.
Kenneth Mathews and his family are being cared for by Farris Cremation and Funeral Center, 19415 Lee Highway Abingdon, Va 24210 (276-623-2700).
Ken, a longtime resident of Abingdon, was preceded in death in 2014 by Betsy, his wife of 66 years. A native of Covington, Va., he served with the Flying Tigers during World War II in China, Burma and India. He was a graduate of the University of Virginia. Ken moved his family to Abingdon in 1953 when he was hired to be the football coach at William King High School. At the conclusion of his prep career at Abingdon High School, his gridiron teams won several District 7 titles and finished with a combined record of 51 wins, 30 losses and 8 ties. He also coached baseball at William King and Abingdon High, his squads posting 106 wins. For two seasons, Ken was an assistant football coach at Emory Henry College.
He earned a masters degree at Radford College and returned to Abingdon High in 1976 as principal. In 2004, Ken was inducted into the AHS Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2013, he and Betsy were honored at a surprise birthday party at the Higher Education Center in Abingdon that was organized by several of his former players.He enjoyed going to casinos and horse-racing tracks. After retirement, Ken and Betsy enjoyed playing numerous golf courses in the Abingdon area.
Ken is survived by two sons, Garret (MaryAnne) of Carmel, Ind., and Dan (Kim) of Abingdon; three grandsons, Adam (Amanda) of Abingdon, Colin (Rachael) of Indianapolis, and Evan of Singapore; two great-grandsons, Gavin and Benjamin; step-great-granddaughters, Madisyn and Emma; and special friend, Peggy Johnson.
The family would like to thank the staff at Summer Trace in Carmel for their kindness during Kens stay there this year as well as the doctors and nurses at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.
Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Tuesday August 23, 2016 at the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon. Graveside Service will follow at 4:00 p.m., in Forest Hills Memory Gardens with Rev. Ellie Scofield officiating. Pallbearers will be, Ronnie Osborne, Byrd Preston, Curt Campbell, Chick Wagner, Les Burke, Gary Neal, and Adam Mathews. Honorary pallbearers will be Ed Legard, Jim Butt, Charles Chippy Smith, Howard Duncan, Floyd Branscomb, Jerry Davis, Paul Clark, James Crow Clark, Lynn Price, James Eyes Castle and all other former athletes, as well as the men who played on teams Ken Mathews coached in the 1950s and 1960s, first at William King and later at Abingdon High School.
Those wishing to share memories and express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com.
Kenneth Mathews and his family are being cared for by Farris Cremation and Funeral Center, 19415 Lee Highway Abingdon, Va 24210 (276-623-2700).
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kenneth Glover Mathews, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 42
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors