Eaton, IN

Stanley G. "Papa" Matthews Sr., 84, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2017.

He was born on September 12, 1932 in Little Crab, Tennessee to Arthur and Thelma (Reagan) Matthews. Stanley served his country in the US Air Force. On September 10, 1955 he married Elma Terry in Tennessee. Together they moved to Indiana and raised their four children.

Stanley worked for Indiana Steel & Wire, retiring in the early 1990s. He loved working in his yard and enjoyed fishing, camping, playing cards, and teasing the grandchildren. Stanley enjoyed NASCAR but most of all the enjoyed watching wrestling.

He is survived by his children: Stanley Matthews Jr. (Terri), Sandy Traylor (James Campbell), Sheri Lankford (Mike), and Stephanie Smith (Ed Hicks), two sisters, June Vandevender and Mary Smith (Steve); eight grandchildren: James Hite Jr. (Eukaliz), Adam Matthews (Rikki), Amy Sites (Nathan), Eric Lankford (Rhea), Zachary Matthews (Chelsea), Alex Smith, Angela Lankford (Derek Martin), and Brooke Hicks, 18 great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Stanley was preceded in death by his wife, Elma Matthews, father Arthur Matthews, his mother, Thelma Anglin; two brothers Horace "Willie" Matthews and Ralph Matthews and two grandsons, Christopher Hite, and David Lankford.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, June 12, 2017 at Pitman-Richman Funeral Home, 200 S. Hartford St., Eaton with Pastor Dewayne Loveless officiating. Burial with Military Funeral Honors by the Delaware County Veterans Honor Guard will follow at Eaton Union Cemetery.

Visitation for family and friends will be at the funeral home from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Sunday, June 11 and one hour prior to services Monday.

Visit watersfuneralhomes.com to leave a condolence or sign the guest book.