Chester Allen Matters

Chester Allen Matters, 94, formerly of New Berlin and Watsontown, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at the Emmanuel Nursing Center, Danville, surrounded by the love and laughter of his family.

He was born April 23, 1921 in New Berlin, a son of the late John J. and Verna E. (Walker) Matters.  He and his wife, the former Charlotte Eslick were married December 10, 1955. Together they celebrated 50 years of marriage before her death on November 17, 2006.

Chester attended school in New Berlin.  He served honorably in the United States Marines during World War II, where he spent time in the South Pacific, Marshal Islands, Gilbert Islands, Ellis Island and Tarawa.  Following his duties in the service, he worked as an Electrician for Bob Ambrovich.

He formerly attended Watsontown United Methodist Church.

Chester was a member of the Clyde F. Mowrer American Legion Post #323, Watsontown.  He was known by much of his family and friends as the "squirrel whisperer" due to his profound love of squirrels and nature.  Chester could often be found feeding squirrels and chipmunks, which even earned him a picture in the newspaper titled, "Chet & Chippy", showing him with a chipmunks eating peanuts right from his lap.  Chester was also fond of gardening and loved planting marigolds.  He was kind, humble, generous and had a dynamic sense of humor.  He was a hero to his family, helping to shape the lives of several generations with his love and sense of family.

Surviving are three sons, Allen Matters and significant other, Debora Davis, of Northeast, Stephen Matters, of Cumberland, West Virginia, and Keith McNeil and his partner, Richard Jolicoeur, of Winfield; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Truman and Helen Matters, of Dice and Lewis and Jean Matters, of Navarre, FL; one daughter-in-law, FayAnn Grunden, of Watsontown; seven grandchildren, Beverly Johnson-Prince and husband, Randy, Shawn McNeil, Amber Matters, Jaime Matters, Staci Rock and husband, Dan, Marc Matters and wife, Natalie, and Aislin Kunkel and husband, Jeff; and five great-grandchildren, Jamie McNeil, Zachary Prince, Morgan Kunkel, Edgar Matters and Rose Charlotte Matters.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by one son, James H. McNeil, Jr.; four brothers, Willard, George and Clayton Matters, and Ray Aurand; and two sisters, Gertrude Maize and Goldie Hackenberg.

Friends will be received from 10 a.m. to Noon on Friday at Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, 308 Main Street, Watsontown where the funeral will be held at Noon.

Burial with full military honors will follow in New Berlin Cemetery.

The family will provide the flowers and suggests memorial contributions in Chester's name be made to the Marines Museum in Quantico, VA online at www.marineheritage.org/MakeDonation.asp.