Visitation for David J. Davis Mathis will be held Fri. May 6 from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton. Funeral Services be held Sat. May 7 at 9:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, at the corner of Jefferson and Ellis Streets with Rev. Catherine Lindberg officiating. Interment will be in Lakeview Memorial Park in Oshkosh, WI on Monday, May 9, at 1:00 P.M.
David, a resident of Wheaton, IL, died May 4, 2005 at his home. He was born Dec. 29, 1920 in Spokane, WA, the son of Walter and Mary Mathis.
He lived in the west until the age of 11, when he moved to Wisconsin. He attended Oshkosh State Teachers College, now University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he sang in the college choir and met his future wife Louise Locke. He worked at Piggly Wiggly Grocery and became produce manager. He then transferred to Kroger Co. and managed several grocery stores in Ripon and Beaver Dam, WI. He worked for the Coca-Cola Co. for 13 years until joining Pepsi Cola Co. in 1960. In 1970, he became the Mid-Western Regional Manager. He was promoted to Divisional Planning Manager and Assistant Vice President retiring in 1985 after 25 years. During his time with Pepsi he started and managed the Pepsi Cola Cycling Team. He was the Person of the Year of the IL Cycling Assoc. in 1994 and awarded Life Membership in American Bicycle Racing in 1999. After retirement he spent more time traveling with and supporting the team.
David enjoyed singing in the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Singing in America and sang lead in the "Unknown Four" quartet and a community choir in Beaver Dam. He was a member of the Rotary Club, SPEBQSA, and numerous cycling organizations.
He sang many years in the choir and was an Elder at Grace Presbyterian Church in Beaver Dam, WI. He was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Wheaton for 35 years, serving as usher and was a member of the Men's Assoc. He was a member of the Pilgrims of Ibillin. He liked to travel and was an avid fan of the Chicago White Sox.
He was the husband of Louise (nee Locke) for 63 yrs.; father of Gary (Joyce) Mathis, Patricia (Thomas) O'Malley, Michael Mathis, Kathleen (David) Cowens, David (Sally) Mathis, and Robert (Victoria) Mathis; grandfather of Kerry Andrews, Kelly Mathis, Shannon and Erin O'Malley, Ben and Josiah Cowens, Brett Airey, and Matthew and Andrew Mathis; and great-grandfather of Trevor and Tabitha Andrews. He is also survived by his sister, Margaret Kimber.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Mary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101; or to the Pilgrims of Ibillin, c/o the Olive Branch Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton, 715 N. Carlton Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187.