Orville D. Matthews (O.D. as he was known by many) 96, of Hollywood, MD, formally from Lemont Furnace, PA, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2023 at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C. Born on March 1, 1927 in Lemont Furnace, PA, he was the son of the late Grace (Baker) Matthews and the late W. Carroll Matthews. Orville was the loving husband to his late wife, Jean Marie (Norris) Matthews, whom he married on April 9, 1951 in St. John’s Church, Hollywood, MD. He is survived by his daughter, Patricia D. Joy (Calvin) of Hollywood, MD, his sibling, Kenneth Matthews (Eleanor) of Lemont Furnace, PA, brother-in-law, Billy Norris (Gail), of Hollywood, MD, sister-in-law, Janice Abell (Bobby), of Leonardtown, MD, sister-in-law, Diane Norris, of Hollywood, MD, and many nieces and nephews. Orville was blessed with two grandchildren, Mark D. Joy (Jessica) and Eric P. Joy (Samantha), both of Hollywood, MD, as well as his five great grandchildren, Hunter, Grace, Parker, Tyler, and Owen. He was preceded in death by his son, James W. Matthews (Zig Zag), and his siblings, Robert Matthews, Geraldine Tansey, Clearance Matthews, and Donald Matthews.
Orville graduated from the North Union High School in Uniontown, PA in 1945 and enlisted into the United States Navy right after graduating on August 23, 1945. Orville served 11 years, 09 months, and 04 days total Active Service as Enlisted before being Commissioned as an Ensign on July 2, 1957, where he served as an Officer for 10 years, 00 months, and 29 days. He retired from the Navy on July 31, 1967 as a Lieutenant. Lt. Matthews received many service awards and ribbons during his 22 years of service to his country. After retiring from the Navy at his last Duty Station from Norfolk NAS as a Supply Officer, Orville and his family moved back to Hollywood, MD where he started work on Patuxent River NAS with the Naval Aviation Logistics Center (NALC), retiring from Civil Service in 1982.
OD enjoyed spending time with his family and always looked forward to returning to his hometown in Pennsylvania for the Annual Matthews Family Reunion. After the death of his parents, the reunion would be hosted by a different sibling each year, taking place in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. OD became a huge NASCAR fan and would spend months at a time following the race circuit in his camper meeting many new friends. Orville was a Charter member of the Hollywood Optimist Club and made many friends serving the youth of Hollywood and always looked forward to the annual food basket deliveries for the holidays.
After the loss of their son Zig Zag, OD and Jean made the decision to finish the house that Zag had started and move from the beloved neighborhood off of Blackistone Road where many memories were made with Bill and Madeline Derby, Rufus and Sharron Dyer and their families. Oh, the memories of all those gatherings on that back porch and the many Thanksgiving Dinners they would host! OD took such pride in the house that Zag started that you would often see him in the yard chasing after falling leaves in the fall and dragging a shop vacuum around the yard in the spring time picking up gumballs!
The family will receive friends on Friday, December 1, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM with services at 10:00 AM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD with Deacon Ammon Ripple officiating. Interment will follow at the Saint John’s Catholic Church Cemetery, Hollywood, MD. Serving as pallbearers will be Mark Joy, Eric Joy, Hunter Joy, Parker Joy, Curt Matthews and Jeff Matthews. Honorary pallbearers will be Grace Joy, Bill Derby, Rufus Dyer, Kenneth Matthews, Billy Norris, Tyler and Owen Joy.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department or Hospice of St. Mary’s County.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com.
Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.