Truman Matcham, 89, died Sunday, July 17, 2005, at Hamot Hospital following a brief illness. He was born March 29, 1916 in Oberlin, Ohio, son of the late George D. Matcham and Emma Callin Matcham. Mr. Matcham [graduated from OHS in 1934,] served in the United States Navy during WWII and was a proud graduate of Ohio State University in 1948. He retired from General Electric Co. in 1980 after working 41 years as an industrial engineer and manager.

Mr. Matcham was a member of the Lawrence Park United Methodist Church, where he was a trustee and held other leadership positions. He served as a Lawrence Park Commissioner and Judge of Elections in Lawrence Park for many years. Mr. Matcham served on the board of the Erie chapter of Meals on Wheels and in many other civic organizations throughout his life.

In his later years he enjoyed woodworking, traveling, photography, reading and was a champion scrabble player.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Martha Matcham, two brothers, George Matcham and Edward Matcham, and sister Marjorie Young.

Survivors include three children, Susan Matcham Hernandez (Robert) ofSalinas, Calif., Beth Matcham Shepherd (Mike) of Silver Spring, Md. and John Matcham (Donna) of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., one sister, Ruth Heimseth of Menlo Park, Ohio, and seven grandchildren.

Friends may call on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the G.R. Bailey Funeral Home, 4396 Iroquois Ave., Lawrence Park. A funeral service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Lawrence Park United Methodist Church followed by the burial at Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery. Memorials may
be made to the Lawrence Park United Methodist Church Youth Endowment Fund, 4015 Niagara Place, Erie, PA 16511.

Erie Times-News, Erie, Penns., Wednesday, July 20, 2005, p. 89.