Erie, PA - James L. Matthews, III, age 74, passed away at his home in Erie, PA, on September 10, 2015, after a battle with cancer. He was born in Norfolk on February 15, 1941, the son of the late James L. Matthews, Jr. and Margaret Sears Matthews. He was a graduate of Granby High School, attended Virginia Tech, and graduated from West Virginia University. Jim worked as a fraud and arson investigator in Portland, OR, retiring in 2003. He was an avid fisherman and a photography enthusiast.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Suzanne Cover Matthews of Erie, PA; son Aaron Adana and wife of Vallejo, CA; three sisters, Carol Matthews and Peggy Soblotne of Virginia Beach, and Laura Jordan of Portsmouth; and two grandchildren, Eva Adana and Kai Adana of Vallejo, CA.

Private burial will be in Union Cemetery, Meyersdale, PA, at the convenience of the family.

I want to let the Pi Kappa Brothers know that Jim passed away peacefully on September 10, 2015. He had been in at-home hospice care since August 17. The liver cancer moved quickly which is good because we know that he did not want to linger with no quality of life. He is being cremated and we will have a private graveside service in Meyersdale, PA in the near future. An obituary will be in the Virginian Pilot newspaper in Norfolk on Sunday, Sept. 20. I can’t begin to tell you how much he loved and appreciated hearing from his Brothers via email, telephone, and even a very special visit from Curt and Bain White. Thank you, Steve, for forwarding my earlier email to the Brothers. I will respond to each of the Brothers who emailed him in the near future. I know your reunion will be a rousing success and I only wish that Jim could be there to join you in person but I know that he will be there in spirit.

Love and Best Wishes to all Pi Kappa Brothers, Wives & Significant Others,

-Suzanne Matthews

June 30, 2017

Dear Steve and all Pi Kappa Brothers,

I want to formally thank you all for having me as your guest at the Reunion and for the gracious hospitality afforded me. As some of you know, I was a bit apprehensive about attending because I knew so few of you, but I was especially encouraged by Randy Zehmer, Doug Macleod and Steve Brisbane and assured that everyone would be welcoming and very friendly. And right they were.

It was a fun and heartwarming weekend for me. I so appreciated the nice things said about Jim by those of you who knew him. He did have a great sense of humor and a quick wit. And I very much enjoyed meeting everyone. I tried to make the rounds to meet you all…hope I didn’t miss anyone.

A special thank you to the reunion committee for a phenomenal job, to JoJo and Ann for sharing their wonderful farm, and to whoever was in charge of getting that five-star air-conditioned restroom facility at the picnic!

Your web site is first class, and I look forward to seeing posts from this reunion. Thank you again for a wonderful weekend and for your gracious hospitality.

Fondly,

Suzanne Matthews