Colonel Valgene Mathews went home to be with his Lord on Aug. 17, 2008.

He left behind many friends and loved ones at his favorite coffee shops and sales barns.
Colonel Valgene Milton Mathews was born March 3, 1921, to Herbert V. Mathews and Ethel L. Zinn Mathews. He grew up along the banks of White Oak Creek and Spring River, and graduated from Sarcoxie High School in 1939.

Colonel Mathews joined the Army Air Corps on July 2, 1942, and flew 35 missions in Europe as a B-17 pilot with the 95th Bomb Group 336th Squadron. After World War II, he joined the Air Force Reserves and commanded the 304th Military Airlift Squadron before retiring as a full colonel with 32 years of military service.

Valgene married Lottie E Westfall on Oct. 17, 1954. They have two children: Matt L. Mathews and Vali S. Watts of Carthage, Mo.; seven grandchildren: Nikole Mathews, Airman First Class Andrew Watts, Crystal Mathews, Victoria Mathews Youngblood, Rebecca Watts Haines,  Mid-Shipman 3rd Class Stephanie Mathews and Chad Mathews; two great-grandchildren: Hannah Bailey and Lottie Youngblood; and a sister, Ramona Schlichting, of Springfield, Mo.
Valgene was preceded in death by his parents and brothers: Raymond Mathews and Rezin Mathews.

Valgene and Lottie own and operate a cattle ranch near Carthage.  He was a member of the Avilla Baptist Church for 87 years. Valgene was a Carthage Rotarian and longtime member of the Missouri and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008, at Ulmer Funeral Home. Burial will be at Beck Cemetery near Stotts City, Mo.

Visitation will be from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Ulmer Funeral Home.