Samuel Rex Mathews, 96 passed away on 29 October 2022 at the Northeast Louisiana Veteran’s Home.   Born April 9th, 1926 on the family farm in Redland, Oklahoma, Sam was the 10th child of  15 children born to Samuel Rex Mathews Sr , “Rex” and his wife, Nancy Jones Mathews. Sam was predeceased by his parents, and his wife of 63 years, Wanda, and many of his siblings.  He is survived by two sisters: Bessie Potts, of Haworth, Oklahoma, and Marthel Smith, of Santa Clarita, California, and his children: David (Moira) Mathews, of Baytown, Texas, Pamela (Freddie) McKinley, of Crossett, Arkansas, Penny (Alfred) Stark, of Haworth, Oklahoma, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Sam was among that great generation of Americans who fought in World War II and helped build America into a great country. A graduate of Haworth High School, Oklahoma Sam joined the US Navy in 1944 and was soon mobilized to the war in the Pacific.  He was a gunner on a destroyer escort, but also had significant duty picking up pilots who were shot out of their planes, both American and Japanese.  He fought in the battle of Leyte Gulf, the biggest naval battle between the Americans and the Japanese in world history. He received a star and ribbon for his service during the invasion of the Philippines in 1945.

After being discharged, Sam rejoined the Navy in 1947 and attended the Machinery Repair School in San Diego, California preparing him for his future sea time posts on large repair ships.  From 1947-1950 he was assigned to Subic Bay, Philippines. During shore leave and between postings in late 1950, Sam and Wanda Dee Holmes met in Wichita, Kansas on a train going to California, and married soon after in Yuma, Arizona.

Sam’s naval career saw him posted within the US, but also to Japan, Korea, the Mediterranean -  visiting Italy, France, Spain and many other countries in that region.  He served on the USS Ajax, USS Bushnell, USS Everglades, USS Grand Canyon and after numerous shore postings, was posted to the USS Shenandoah in Norfolk, Virginia. Sam received four Good Conduct medals, and campaign medals including the Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal 1 Star, Philippine Liberation Campaign Ribbon, United Nations Campaign Medal and Korean Campaign Ribbon. After achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer Sam was released to inactive duty in December 1964, joining Fleet reserves, and took his family back to Redland where he purchased the Mathews’ family property, and he and Wanda raised Brangus cattle.  Sam also worked for a period of time on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and for Brown and Root for many years, while Wanda pursued her nursing career. He retired honorably from the Navy Reserves in June 1975.

Graveside Services are set for 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning November 2, 2022 at Redland Cemetery, Redland, OK with Rev. Tracy Reed officiating.

 In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your local not-for-profit hospice provider, or charity of your choice.