Larry William Mathes, 85, of Corydon, died Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Baptist Health Floyd in New Albany, Indiana.  He was born April 19, 1939, in Corydon, to the late George and Catheryn Reas Mathes.  He was retired from the Indiana Department of Transportation, was a member of Heidelberg Church near Corydon, was a proud member of the Corydon Central High School Class of 1957, and was a U.S. Army veteran having served during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Lovingly known as Papaw Who Who, he was an inventor, a carpenter, a dreamer, a jokester, a billiard and BINGO champion, and most importantly, someone who loved Jesus Christ.  He spent his last day reminiscing about old times, ensuring that we each knew he loved us, and telling everyone he came into contact with about the saving power that only Christ can provide.  While he will be missed for the rest of our lives, we rejoice knowing he is in paradise and we will be reunited with him again one day.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Donald Mathes; and his sisters, Betty Ripperdan, Nancy Snyder, and Mary Lou Emily.

 

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Betty Alice Cunningham Mathes; his sons, Michael Mathes (Denise) of Bloomfield, Indiana and Mark Mathes of Corydon; his daughters, Michele Davis (John) of Lakeland, Florida and Melody Coleman (Lyle) of Brownsburg, Indiana; his grandchildren, Jessica Whitehouse, Kimberly Jackson, Kelly Decker (Scott), Jackson Coleman, and Harrison Coleman; and his great grandchildren, Aubrey, Aaliyah, Isaiah, Tinley, Hazel, and Ryleigh.

 

There will be a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Beanblossom-Cesar Funeral Home in Corydon.  Burial will be private at a later date in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Corydon.

 

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 10, and after 9:00 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at the funeral home.

 

The family requests that expressions of sympathy be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or at https://www.cancer.org/.