Larry Mathewson was a past president of Bluffton school board

Larry L. Mathewson, 88, died June 21, 2020, at Brookdale Senior Living in Bowling Green, Ohio.  Larry was born Oct. 9, 1931, in Ada to the late Dana and Treva (Lewis) Mathewson.  On June 30, 1951 he married Imajean Klass who preceded him in death on Nov. 11, 2010. 

Larry graduated from Bluffton High School where he was an all-conference running back. He started working with his father at the Bluffton Welding Shop and later was a maintenance welder at the Lima Ford Engine Plant from which he retired. Larry was also a life-long farmer. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Bluffton, and the local Farm Bureau and past president of the Bluffton school board. 

Survivors include six children, Dana (Christine) Mathewson of Whitehouse, Ohio, Debra Witherell of Waterville, Ohio, David Mathewson of Powell, Ohio, Darryl (Brenda) Mathewson of Defiance, Ohio, Don (Cheryl) Mathewson of Holland, Ohio, Diana (Michael W.) Kuhar of Whitehouse, Ohio; 17 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Robert Mathewson of Bellevue, Michigan; Eugene (Sue) Mathewson of Bluffton, Ohio; three sisters, Eilene (Dick) Hubbard of Ada, Ohio; Sue (John) Schmutz of Bluffton, Ohio; and Carol Falk of Bluffton, Ohio.

Larry was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Martin Witherell and a sister- in-law, Jean Mathewson.

A private service with the immediate family will be held at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton. Father John Stites officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Bluffton. Due to the COVID-19 concerns, a live stream via Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services Facebook Page will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 26.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice, 1001 Kingsmill Parkway, Columbus, Ohio 43229, the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doyleston, Pennsylvania 18901 or the American Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.