Ronald "Ron" Louis Matthews
Ronald (“Ron”) Louis Matthews, 90, died Saturday, May 24, 2025. Ron was a lifelong educator. He was loved and appreciated by many of his students.
Ron was born July 25, 1934, in Dallas, Texas. He is preceded in death by his mother and step-father, Adeline Lucile and Woodruff Halsey Schley; his father and step-mother, Louis Frederick and Jan Gretchen Matthews; his grandparents, Ralph and Minnie Matthews; and his brother, Donald Eugene Matthews.
Mr. Matthews is survived by his wife, Marjorie Ann (Schmidt) Matthews; children, Mark Ronald Matthews (Vicki) of North Barrington, Illinois and Kim Michele Matthews of Wichita, Kansas.
Mr. Matthews attended public schools in Dallas, Texas, graduating in 1950. He attended college, earning an Associate's Degree in 1954. He served in the U.S. Army through 1956. He earned a BA degree in Mathematics (1958) at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas and a MA degree in Mathematics (1960) at North Texas University in Denton, Texas. Mr. Matthews’ professional career as an educator began in 1958.During his career he taught mathematics in Dallas, Texas; Portland, Oregon; Shreveport, Louisiana; Wichita, Kansas; Valley Center, Kansas; and Goddard, Kansas. He was a building administrator for high schools in Shreveport, Louisiana; Wichita, Kansas; and Valley Center, Kansas. He also taught college mathematics for El Centro College in Dallas, Texas; Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri; and Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. He retired from full-time teaching in 2006, but continued to teach part-time until 2011. He was an avid fan of old movies and The University of Texas Longhorn football team, and an ardent student of the American Civil War.
Funeral Service will be at 2:00 pm, Friday, June 6, 2025, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ron’s memory to Scholarship America, Attn: Development, P.O. Box 772858, Detroit, MI 48277-2858, www.scholarshipamerica.org/donate/. Please notate if donating online “in memory of Ron Matthews.”
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Rest Ronald “Ron”, until you hear at dawn, the low, clear reveille of God. Thank you for your service to this nation. U.S. Army.
In Loving Memory of Ron Matthews from the 1995 Class of Valley Center High School.
We remember Ron Matthews with deep respect and lasting gratitude. As Vice Principal of Valley Center High School, he was the kind of leader who left a mark – not just through rules and discipline, but through care, consistency, and quiet kindness. Kids these days could really use an “Uncle Ron.”
Many of us were tough on him back then, but looking back, we know he was a good man doing a hard job – and doing it well. Whether he was walking the halls with his famously intimidating mustache or playing the “bad cop” to Principal Moon’s “good cop,” Mr. Matthews commanded respect and earned it.
He was firm, but fair. Strong – maybe thanks to those Texas roots – and steadfast in keeping all of us in line, even when we didn’t make it easy. And underneath that tough exterior was someone who genuinely cared.
Ron Matthews was the kind of person whose impact lasts long after the final bell. He made our school better. He made us better. We are grateful – for his presence, his leadership, his patience, and his humanity. Our thoughts are with his beloved wife, and with everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
Thank you, Mr. Matthews.