Eugene E. "Smiley" Matthews

Eugene E. “Smiley” Matthews, age 83, of New Castle, DE, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, May 19, 2023. Born in Stanton, DE on January 28, 1940, he was a son of the late Walter and Hattie (Miller) Matthews. Smiley proudly served in the Delaware National Guard from 1958 – 1963. In 2001, after 39 dedicated years as a Local 42 Union Insulator, Smiley retired. He served as the Local 42 Financial Secretary for many years and was Trustee on the Health and Welfare Fund. Due to his love of bowling with Pat on Sunday nights, Smiley was also the president of their league for quite some time. Continuing his passion for sports, Smiley served as the Vice President of New Castle Little League, where you could find him most evenings and weekends. He was a long-time booster for William Penn High School Wrestling, where he never missed a wrestling match. He enjoyed supporting the Delaware wrestling community any way he could and was recognized with the 2005 Service Award from the Delaware Wrestling Alliance. His deep-rooted commitment to each of these organizations was admirable. One of the greatest days of his life was watching his Philadelphia Eagles finally winning a Super Bowl in 2018. Above anything else, Smiley cherished spending time with his family as a proud and devoted father and pop-pop. He and Pat never missed a sporting event for their children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Smiley was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Elizabeth “Pat” Matthews, and sister, Charlotte Ansalvish. He is survived by his children, Vivian Dillon (John), Monica Rodkey (Brian), Carrie Kitto (Dave), Gene Matthews (Colleen) and Scott Matthews (Angela); siblings, Gloria Stucker (Ned), Mert Matthews and Irene Ellsworth; 18 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5 pm until 7 pm on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 North DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 7 pm. We would like to honor Smiley by having anyone attending come in their favorite Philadelphia Eagles or Phillies gear or any other sports team “excluding Dallas Cowboys”. Interment will be held privately in Gracelawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Smiley’s name to the Christiana Care Heart and Vascular Center, 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE 19718 or online by clicking here or to the William Penn High School Wrestling Booster, 713 East Basin Road, New Castle, DE 19720.

Eugene E. "Smiley" Matthews

January 28, 1940 - May 19, 2023