Theodore Philip Mathues

Theodore Philip Mathues
November 29, 1938 – July 9, 2026

RALEIGH – Theodore Philip “Ted” Mathues, 87, passed on from this life in his home and is at peace. He was born in Donora PA, to the late Theodore Francis Mathues & Valeria Jean Ley. Ted was a talented musician and played the tuba and sousaphone in the Donora High School and University of Pittsburgh marching bands and orchestras. He was also part of a 4 piece combo, playing the stand-up bass in a group called the “Hi Liters” and he played in the Community Orchestra summer concerts at McGraft Park in Muskegon, MI for many years.

After Ted graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1960 with a BS in Chemical Engineering, he worked as a Testing Engineer for Underwriters Labs in Chicago, IL. He served as a Manager, General Manager and Certified Quality Engineer and worked for a variety of companies including Anaconda Wire and Cable Company, AnaMag, General Alum, and American Home Products. Work took Ted from Chicago to Muskegon, MI where he started his family, then Crestwood, KY, and Shelbyville, IN. After retiring, he moved to Raleigh, NC where he enjoyed being close to his beloved grandchildren. He made many friends along the journey and most recently at the Atria Oakridge Retirement Community.

Ted had a variety of talents & interests and he never met a lasagna that he didn’t like. He was a member of Mensa, a private pilot (and survived a crash landing), a certified rifle and pistol instructor with the NRA, and a licensed amateur radio operator (N9TEP). His hobbies included bowling, boating, model railroads, photography, scroll saw art, stained glass, and scherenschnitte (a traditional paper-cutting folk art). He was a true tinkerer and enjoyed spending time in a garage, basement or workshop creating or fixing things and trying to “build a better mousetrap”.

Along with his parents, Ted was preceded in death by his two “leading ladies”. The first was his high school sweetheart and first wife, Beverly Carole (Rosborough) Mathues who he married in 1963 and who preceded him in death in 2002. Later in life, he was blessed to find love again with Sally Ann (Forncrook) Mathues who he married in 2011 and who passed away in 2024.

Theodore leaves to cherish his memory, his sister, Mary Jane (Mathues) Comella of Louisville, KY.; his sons Theodore Robert Mathues (Mark) of Las Vegas, NV; James Michael Mathues (Karrie) of Raleigh, NC and grandchildren Maxwell Robert Mathues, Elise Caroline Mathues and Samuel David Mathues. Also, he leaves Jack Ide (Nancy), Guy Ide (Norene), Joni Ide Mitchell (Bob), Dane Ide (Tammy), and Denny Ide (Judy) who embraced and loved him also.

The family would like to thank the caring and compassionate staff at Atria Oakridge and Always Best Care.

A memorial service for Ted will be on Saturday, August 1, 2026, beginning at 11:00AM in the Strickland Funeral Home chapel in Wendell, NC with visitation from 10:00AM to 11:00AM prior to the service. He will be interred at a later date at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Monongahela PA.

Flowers welcome or memorial contributions can be made to the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum, PO Box 522, Donora, PA 15033.

Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, 211 W. Third St., Wendell, NC.
www.stricklandfuneral.com