Entered the presence of his Lord and Savior on November 30, 2021, with Marie, his loving wife of 59 years by his side. His enduring gift was to pour into others for their growth and development – spiritually and personally. It was a rare moment that he was not seeking to solve problems that would lessen another’s burdens. Marie was the apple of his eye and the delight of his heart. He was loved by his family including children: Heather & Frank Williams, Dave & Janice Mattox, and Holly & Kevin Corwin as well as grandchildren: Austin & Kelli Williams, Dr. Jessica Mattox, Logan Williams, Dan Mattox, Ryan Williams, Emma Corwin, Ava Corwin and Ella Corwin and two great-grandchildren.
Doug Mattox was born January 2, 1941 in Plainfield, New Jersey to Milton and June (Janelli) Mattox. A precocious child who was broadcast playing the accordion on New York City radio at the age of ten. He loved music and science and followed those pursuits earning a PhD from Rutgers University in Ceramic Engineering. His career specialized in glass and specifically lighting. As an inventor with 12 patents and numerous international accolades, Dr. Mattox worked in industry for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation for over twenty years as well as Tenured Professor at the Missouri Science and Technology for 13 years.
Dr. Mattox was a teacher by nature and loved studying the Bible and sharing deep truths in practical ways. His students were of all ages and Dr. Mattox loved finding ways to study together through humor, song, poetry and memory devices. His approach endeared his students to him and inspired them to apply their understanding. From his days in graduate school through retirement, Dr. Mattox had a special bond with young people regarding their spiritual development. Many a late night was spent in discussion and earnest engagement with students’ challenges and dreams. Oftentimes, students could sense his sincere interest and would share their deepest needs.
In his later years, he garnered a following with an email Bible study through Paul’s letter to the Romans and the book of Job. These virtual discussions were a source of complete engagement as he wrestled difficult questions to address the challenges of life.
He loved music at all levels from grade school recitals, high school musicals, college band concerts as well of course, opera. He was a highly skilled accordion and piano player. He wrote songs including a musical, but his favored pastime was to perfect a song with a friend or family member to share publicly.
Family was the source of great pleasure. Dad and Mom rarely missed a track meet, soccer match, football game, concert or school event for their kids and even their grandkids. His presence was nearly a guarantee as he treasured those times. All his family had shared individual moments of instruction from him to master a challenging technique or skill needed for sports or music. They knew Papa or Grandpa was in their corner.
He loved extravagantly and was loved deeply in return. His faithfulness to Christian service and encouragement will be missed.
Visitation at Kutis Affton Chapel 10151 Gravois Rd 63123 on Friday, December 3 from 4-8 pm. Funeral service at Meramec Bluffs Nursing Home Chapel (1 Meramec Bluffs Drive Ballwin, Mo. 63021) on Saturday, December 4 at 10 am. Interment at Park Lawn Cemetery will be held in private.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to Trinity Christian School (https://forms.donorsnap.com/form?id=fcd6bea9-c773-4d6f-abe2-0bc5a2e984b9). This school has been his passion and a source of joy for more than 50 years.
Marie – you have my love and support, always.
Dad,
you were so committed to excellence in faith, love, and life. Thank you for your tremendous care of Mom and our family. I am so glad that your pain is gone and you are with the Lord.
Your lessons guide me daily and bring a chuckle as well. May we lean in to continue your example of faithfulness (2 Kings 2:9).
Love you Dad!
Marie,
So few of us find our perfect “soul mates” so early in our lives. You & Doug were of the lucky few who have.
Bob and I are so sorry for your loss and our prayers are with you and your family.
God bless,
Marilyn
My Cousin Doug was a new found joy for me as never got to meet most of my older cousins. I enjoyed exchanging emails as we discuss the Mattox family tree. I knew Uncle Milt and Aunt June, but by then, Doug was at Rutgers. I am thankful for studying the Bible with the knowledge he shared. I will treasure the books he wrote as never too old to keep learning. Doug and I shared a love of writing poems and songs which was a blessing to learn. I share mine with my church family. Doug shared the love of Jesus Christ with his family, friends and his church family. May you all hold that love in your hearts to comfort and guide you in the days ahead.
Cousin Sharon Mattox DeForest
Dearest Grandpa,
I feel the best way to honor your memory is to write. You were a prolific writer and wrote like you were running out of time until the very end, publishing two books in 2021. From Dunellen New Jersey to Forest Hills Pennsylvania to Rolla Missouri to O’Fallon and Ballwin Missouri, you impacted so many people and leave very large shoes to fill. You filled many roles over your lifetime: scholar, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, inventor, engineer, scientist, musician, artist, professor, teacher, preacher, and most recently author. You were many things to a great many people, Dr. Mattox, but you had the greatest impact on me as simply grandpa. I am blessed to have spent the past twenty-five years with you as a role model and am grateful for the many memories I have with you.
The first memory I would like to highlight is the time you spent taking care of my brother and me when my mother got sick back in 2002. I described the experience thusly in my never-to-be published unfinished untitled autobiography, “I remember my grandfather came to visit every Sunday night with a blue lunch box filled with hot dogs. He would play chess with my brother and me and entertain us until Friday afternoon before going back home to central Missouri…I was always ready to see what my grandpa would think of next for us to do. The retired engineering professor was an incredibly bright man and would always come up with new games for us to play. [We] were in a perpetual state of quiet awe around my grandfather. We had known him our whole lives, but now he had become our friend.”
The next memory I would like to highlight is sharing your love of the arts with me. As I write this, I am listening to Puccini’s operas. I have so many fond memories of watching musicals and operettas with you. Together we saw Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty and the Beast, Pirates of Penzance, Les Miserables, Come From Away, and countless others. You instilled in me a love for the arts and I am so grateful to you for introducing me to just how beautiful the world can be if we all use our God-given gifts and talents of creativity.
The final memory I would like to highlight is from May of this year. I graduated this past spring with my PharmD degree making me the second Dr. Mattox in our family. I visited your apartment with my graduation regalia and my newly minted diploma and you told me how proud of me you were. Your most recently published book traces in great detail the line of scientific minds in the Mattox family and you explained, “…how the Mattox’s instinctively seized on practical opportunities that their mechanical gifts allowed.” Though I never could quite get into engineering or physics, I am honored to continue the Mattox scientific legacy in your second favorite type of applied science: healthcare. You were always eager to hear what I had been learning and especially excited to hear about my research.
I am very grateful for you for showing me what it means to be both a person of faith and a person of scientific rigor. I am thankful that you encouraged me to see both the order and the beauty in this world. I know that you are up in heaven getting answers to all of the questions you have about exactly how things work here on Earth. I love you so much and am forever thankful that your last words to me were, “I love you too.” Down here on Earth, I will remember you today by listening to Puccini, watching a Hallmark movie, and tracking down some Bolognese.
EOM,
Jessica
“When peace like a river attendeth my way/When sorrows like sea billows roll/Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say/ It is well, it is well with my soul” – Horatio Spafford, 1873
In the 2 or 3 years of a shared summer week at Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference in Michigan, I got to spend snatches of time with Doug, often discussing our common interests in science and music. His knowledge and passion were contagious and left a track on my heart, for which I feel my life is better. I thank God and Marie for sharing him and wish Marie and her family the peace that passes all understanding.
Doug was a complex person on many levels but simple in the way he reached out to so many. He encouraged and wanted to bring out the best. He kept us laughing when the family was here in pgh, always proposing ways to be together but in old fashioned sweet ways: movies, trips to sandy lake etc. we were not great at keeping communication going but Doug and Marie graciously kept us in their sphere. We knew how the children and grandchildren were doing and their prayers for them. He encouraged us spiritually and I was so pleased to order a Bible study book written by our friend. We found ourselves saying so many times”well Doug said”….. larger than life and yet simple in his love for Christ and his family. Looking forward to seeing you again Doug.
I have only known Doug for a brief period of time through phone conversations and email but his words of counsel and encouragement have truly been a blessing to me in many ways. The testimony shared of his life truly describes my brief and recent interactions with Doug. I am saddened by his passing but am grateful that we will meet again and then we will talk face to face.
The Trinity School community will be praying for your family.
Doug was unique with so many different gifts from God. We met 50 years ago, but lost touch when he moved from Pittsburgh. We connected up again last January and it was just as if we never lost touch. Both of us just had found we have liver cancer, and discussed how blessed our lives have been and this is a bump in the road before entering eternity. We blessed and prayed for each other knowing it’s temporary, but we will be alive forever with our loved ones.
What a friend! I look forward to seeing him soon.
Marie and children: God bless you all with precious memories as you grieve for such a loss.
Paul Roth
Doug was a rare breed of a man. He open himself to all that reached out. He was my cousin
and loved pulling pranks on me when I was a child. His mother was my Aunt I remember he loved comic books. I would sometime stay at my aunts house and I would Read them. Doug was a honest and loving man. He will be missed by all that new him. Marie was the love one of his life. he will be missed, but he will always be with you as long as you have him in your heart.
Till we meet again.
Cheryl
The memorial service was beautiful beyond words. We have been blessed to have known a man who loved the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind and with all his strength. His life and the testimonies of your family inspire us try to do the same in our remaining days.
Doug, Marie and family have come to Maranatha Bible Conference for many years and they enjoyed being with all the special guests who come on Week 7. That week is truly like “family” with each other, having great fellowship and great fun together, along with hearing the word of God from great speakers and missionaries. As Dennis said earlier, Doug “touched” and “blessed” many friends there and shared his vast knowledge on many subjects with them. Personally, Doug brought a calm presence and wise advise when I was troubled about finances. Doug and Marie were always special to me and I looked forward to being with them as they came to Maranatha. We all will miss you Doug!! Love, Gail Winchell – Hostess of Maranatha