Larry Lee Matthess

How appropriate for Larry’s passing on August 21, 2017 to occur on the day of the solar eclipse.  The world became a darker place without his presence.
He passed in Redlands from complications from cancer and radiation at the age of 69.
Larry was born on September 26, 1947 in Riverside to Dorothy and Wilbur Matthess.  He was the youngest of 3 children.  He graduated from Ramona High School and volunteered for the Marine Corps at the age of 17.  He truly was one of the few, and the proud.  He was a Vietnam vet and also ran a MARS (Military Affiliate Radio Station) in Vietnam, Hawaii and Barstow.  He ran phone patches from Vietnam through Hawaii and to the states to enable vets to contact family members.  He worked as a Fire Department dispatcher after being discharged and went back to school and graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a BS in Mechanical engineering.  He was a member of the honor society of Tau Beta Pi and was also a certified welder, machinist and tool and die maker.  He enjoyed boxing, photography, using his dark room to develop prints, hiking, woodworking, making parts for his 40 Ford Coupe, music, animals, the great outdoors and of course traveling and getting together with friends.
Larry was preceded in death by his father, Wilbur, his mother, Dorothy, his sisters; Patricia and Susan.
Larry is survived by his wife, Rosemary, son, Michael, 5 beautiful granddaughters, 2 great grandchildren and many dear family members and friends.
A celebration of his amazing life will take place on September 12 at 10:00 am, at Emmerson Bartlett Memorial Chapel, 703 Brookside Ave., Redlands. A luncheon will follow at the American Legion Post at 814 W. Colton Ave., Redlands.