In Memory of

Ronald

Franklin

Mathias

Obituary for Ronald Franklin Mathias

Ronald Franklin Mathias, of Havre de Grace, MD, passed away on October 21, 2018. He was 83.
Mr. Mathias was born in Washington, D.C., to Benjamin Dailey Mathias and Roselee Ellen Lepley Mathias. He lived in Bladensburg, MD, until the age of 9 or 10, then moved to Mathias, WV, through High School. He attended Potomac State College, where he met his future wife, and graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering in 1958.
He married Carolyn Jean Forinash on August 30, 1958, and was called to the U.S. Army in September 1958, serving his military time at Aberdeen Proving Ground. He continued working at Aberdeen Proving Ground as a civilian for BRL and AMSAA. Mr. Mathias was a long-time member of the Presbyterian Church of Havre de Grace, serving as an elder, trustee and choir member for over 40 years. He was a member of the Havre de Grace Lions Club, holding several offices, was the Sight Chair, and was honored as a Melvin Jones Fellow. Mr. Mathias was a member of the Susquehanna Masonic Lodge 130, the Scottish Rite, and served as Grand Tall Cedar of HarCee Forest. He was Past Patron of Havre de Grace Chapter 27, OES, and served as Worthy Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter 2005-06. Mr. Mathias was also a Scout Master and long-time committee member for Boy Scout Troop 967.
Along with his wife of 60 years, Mr. Mathias is survived by his children, Katherine Mathias Shrader and her husband Timothy of Bridgewater, VA, Dr. Ronald Mark Mathias and Shauna Martin of DeLand, FL, Michael Benjamin Mathias and his wife Priscilla Bucci-Mathias of Bel Air, MD, and Elizabeth Mathias Saenz and her husband Anthony, of Havre de Grace, MD, his grandchildren Katherine Roselee Shrader, Emily Shrader Shive and her husband Justin, Carolyn Shrader Hechler and her husband Tyler, Stephen Shrader, Laurel Mathias, Ethan Mathias, John Lindes, Henry Mathias, and Andrew Mathias, great-grandchildren Evelyn Shive and Theodore Shive. He was the brother of Gary Dailey Mathias and his wife Verne of Martinsburg, WV, and the late William Royce Mathias, and brother-in-law of Mary Anne Hogan and her husband Edsel of Franklin, WV. He is also survived by his former daughter-in-law Cindy Bennington of Deland, FL, former son-in-law William Lindes of Bethany Beach, DE, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
A viewing will be held on Wednesday, October 24, from 5-8 PM, at Zellman Funeral Home, P.A., 123 S. Washington St., Havre de Grace, MD. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 25, 2018, at 11:00 AM at the Presbyterian Church of Havre de Grace, 551 Franklin St., Havre de Grace, MD.
Memorial contributions may be made to Autism Speaks at the “Hank Rocks” website, act.autismspeaks.org/goto/HANKROCKS, or to the Presbyterian Church of Havre de Grace.
Online condolences may be made at www.zellmanfuneralhome.com.

Affiliations


  • Army

  • Boy Scouts of America

  • Eastern Star

  • Lion's Club

  • Masonic Lodge

  • Scottish Rite of Freemasonry

  • Tall Cedars of Lebanon