Matz, Merle Clifford
Additional Notes
WOOSTER -- Merle Clifford Matz, 87, of Wooster, died Saturday, March 28, 2009, at Smithville Western Care Center. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m., at Roberts Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. Alan E. Nathan officiating.
Friends may call one hour prior at Roberts Funeral Home, Sherwood Chapel, Wooster. Burial will be at Sherwood Memorial Gardens, where military rites will be held.
Online tributes may be made at www.robertsfuneralhome.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 301 N. Market St., Wooster, Ohio 44691, or to Viola Startzman Free Clinic, 1874, Cleveland Road, Wooster, Ohio 44691.
Clifford was born Jan. 5, 1922, in Wooster, to Merle D. and Grace E. (Neuroth) Matz. He graduated from Smithville High School. He served in the Air Force during World War II for three years.
He married Dorothy Cholley-Metcalf on Sept. 8, 1972. Cliff was a self-employed commercial pilot and flight instructor. He soloed an airplane in 1940, at age 18.
During World War II he enlisted in the Air Force Reserves, beginning a long association with general aviation. He instructed Army and Navy pilots in their flight training. After the war, he continued instructing, flying charter and pipeline patrol for East Ohio Natural Gas Co.
He retired at age 75, after accumulating 37,000 hours of flying time. Total hours of flying 1,200,000 miles were for the pipeline patrol. He was a member of Smithville Lions and the American Legion. He was a Mason at Lodge No. 33 in Wooster for more than 60 years.
He will be deeply missed by his wife, Dorothy; children, Sandra (Ray) Ebie of Orrville, John Thomas (Melanie) Metcalf of Centerville, Kathleen (Ron) Anders of Fredericktown; grandchildren Heather (Heath) Wells, Brandon Bucher, Kari Bean, Tom Robinson, William (Angie) Anders, Rachel (Dr. Ed) Verzola, Tina Ebie, Mitchell Ebie and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Susan Bean, and brother, George J. Matz.
[Source: The Daily Record (Wooster) Obituaries, March 30, 2009]