Jack Wayne Matthews, Sr., 91 of Van Buren passed away Monday, December 3, 2018 in a local nursing home. Jack retired from Speer Hardware Store in Fort Smith after fifty years of faithful service; he began employment at fourteen years of age, he worked there until the late 1990’s. He was a veteran of WWII, having obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant and his commendations included Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon, Army Occupation Ribbon, Victory Ribbon and one overseas service bar. He is preceded in death by parents, Sperry and Fannie (West) Matthews, four brothers and three sisters.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, December 6, 2018 at U.S. National Cemetery Pavilion in Fort Smith with military honors under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home Van Buren.

He is survived by one daughter, Roseanna Walcher and husband, Ray of Milford, Ohio; one son, Jack Wayne Matthews, Jr. and wife, Linda of Mountainburg; four grandchildren, Shannon Horvath of Milford, Ohio, Amanda Walcher and husband, Dave of Munroe Falls, Ohio, Aaron Wayne Matthews and wife, Jennifer of Centerton, Arkansas, Kyle Wesley Matthews and wife, Rachel of Virginia Beach, Virginia; five great grandchildren, Eliana Horvath of Milford, Ohio, Jack Wesley and Wyatt Zachary Matthews both of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Sperry Douglas and Declan Rhys Matthews both of Centerton and the mother of his children, Ruth I. Matthews of Van Buren and several nieces and nephews.