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The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., October 21, 1954, page 1

FUNERAL SERVICES HELD FOR WILLIAM MATTA WEDNESDAY

Funeral rites for William Matta, 57, of Centerville were held at Phillips Funeral Home Wednesday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. P. Glenn Garner officiating. Interment was made in the Centerville Grange Cemetery with the graveside rides by the Louis Leidl post of the American Legion. Matta was a veteran of World War 2 and a member of the local post.
Matta was found dead in his cell at the county jail Sunday at 3:30 p.m. after he had hanged himself with his trousers belt, county coroner Thurman Ward reported. Bill was being held for insanity investigation following an illness which had confined him to Barnes Veterans Hospital, Vancouver, for six weeks. He was released from the hospital October 9, and was picked up by sheriff Ez Kaiser at Centerville October 11 at the home of his sister, Mrs. Vivian Wilson. Matta reportedly had been out overnight in the rain, causing concern among his relatives. He was under the care of Dr. Robert Backer while in jail, but refused to enter the hospital here.
Matta was born at Centerville March 4, 1897, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Matta, early day settlers of the Valley. He had lived there all his life.
His survivors include one brother, Herman; and two sisters, Mrs. Vivian Wilson of Centerville and Mrs. Floyd Hetrick of Hermiston, Oregon; a niece, Mrs. Larry Coyle of Rufus, Ore.; and three nephews, Clifford Wilson of Goldendale, Floyd and Norman Hetrick of Hermiston.
Matta was a baptized member of the Lutheran Church at Centerville.

The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., October 21, 1954, page 1

MAN HANGS SELF IN COUNTY JAIL

William (Bill) Matta, 57, Centerville, was found dead in his cell at the Klickitat county jail in Goldendale about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27. He had hanged himself with his belt.
According to County Coroner Thurman Ward, Matta was being held for insanity investigation.
Matta, a farm laborer, had been a lifelong resident of Centerville and was a veteran of W.W. II. His is survived by his sister, Mrs. J.A. Wilson and a brother, Herman Matta, both of Centerville; and another sisters of Hermiston, Ore.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, in the Phillips funeral home in Goldendale. Burial was in the Centerville cemetery.