Dr. James R. Mathews, Sr.

MATHEWS, Sr., Dr. James R., age 79, born June 3, 1937 in Wakulla County, Florida, died April 10, 2017. Graduate of Roosevelt H.S., 1955; B.S. in Biology, University of Dayton, 1959; MD, Howard University Medical School, 1963. Commissioned a Captain, U.S. Army, June 17, 1963; served as brigade surgeon and paratrooper in Vietnam; honorably discharged in 1967. Faithfully served the West Dayton community until he retired in 2010. Preceded in death by parents, John H. and Emma (Donaldson) Mathews; daughter, Carla D. Mathews; brother, Willie F. Mathews. He leaves to cherish his memory a loving and supportive partner of 28 years, Janet T. Harden; former wife and mother of his children, Annie M. Mathews; children, Dr. Karen M. Mathews, Tipp City, OH, Robin R. Mathews, Esq., Columbus, OH and James R. Mathews, Jr., London, OH; grandchildren, Lacey, Sydney and Mackenzie “Chubby” Pahren, all of Columbus, OH. He also showed fatherly compassion to Calista (Anthony) Smith, Jewel Barrios, Charles (Lakeisha) Harden, and will be lovingly remembered as “Papa Doc” by their children Leah, Karlie, Kayla and Jeancarlo. Further survived by siblings, Jesse (Lois) Mathews, Lucille Herring, Bishop John H. (Dorothy) Mathews, Mildred Crawford, all of Dayton; sister-in-law, Barbara Mathews; loving aunt, Omega Matthews and her family; special friends, Art (Pat) Chaney, Paramus, NJ, Liz (Joe) Hespeth of Dayton; a host of other family, friends and colleagues. Visitation 6-8 pm Monday, April 17, 2017 at the House of Wheat Funeral Home, 2107 N. Gettysburg Ave. Funeral service 11 am Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Mt. Zion A.O.H. Church of God, 12 College St., with visitation 1 hour before service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association and/or American Lung Association. Special thanks to staff at Dayton VA Medical Center and Miami Valley Hospital for their compassionate care. 

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