Derek Mathews

The family of Derek Mathews is saddened to announce his passing on February 6th 2021 in his 87th year at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital.  Derek was born in Croydon, England. He is predeceased by his parents, Charles and Dorothy Mathews and his younger brother David ,also his son-in-law, Terry.  He was a kind and loving man who always made his family the first priority in his life.  He will be forever missed by his wife of 62 years, Chris, his two daughters Helen (Tony), Tracy, and grandchildren Tyler (Carly), Kristen and Anthony and sister-in-law, June and her family in England.

Derek was always mechanically minded. He joined the British Army at 17 for a 3 year stint and went into the R.E.M.E., where he received his mechanic’s training. He served two years in what was then Malaya in support of the Somerset Light Infantry and the Gurkha Rifles by being responsible for the maintenance of trucks, generators and on the odd occasion an airplane.  He took great pride in the military for the rest of his life.

Derek and his wife and baby daughter immigrated to Canada in 1967 where, for the rest of his working life, he was employed in various positions with the same electric fork lift truck company originally from Britain.  He took great pride in our family cottage doing most of the work in and around it and where we had and have great friends and happy memories with much laughter.  The family are also thankful to and for the great neighbours and friends in Huntsville who did much to enrich Derek’s life and continue to in support of his wife.

If desired, donations would be appreciated to Wounded Warriors of Canada, www.woundedwarriors.ca or a charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.