Frank Furlong Mathias

MATHIAS, Frank Furlong, age 86, of Kettering, born on May 23, 1925, entered into eternal life on February 10, 2012 at Hospice of Dayton. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Nancy (nee Furlong) Mathias; and a brother, Charles L. Mathias, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Florence (nee Duffy) Mathias; three children, Nancy Sullivan and her husband Patrick of Rocky River, OH, Frank F. Mathias, Jr. and his wife Dr. Catherine Curley of Cleveland Heights, OH, and Susan Mathias and her husband Kenneth Gross of Farmington, ME; seven grandchildren, Kenneth, Elisabeth, Susan, John, and Thomas Sullivan, and Bridget and Helen Mathias. Frank was born in Maysville, KY and grew up in nearby Carlisle. During WWII he served in the South Pacific as a Sergeant in the 37th "Buckeye" Infantry Division. After the war Mathias earned a Doctorate in History at the University of Kentucky. He was a professor of history at the University of Dayton for Twenty-Five Years. Mathias was twice elected Professor/Scholar of the year in both 1975 and 1985. He was awarded a fellowship at Chicago's Newberry Library in 1977. Mathias authored four books and was a contributing author to five others. His last book, "The GI Generation: A Memoir" won the 2001 Ohioana Library Association Award as "The Best Non-Fiction Book by an Ohio Author". Frank was a member of St. Albert the Great Catholic Church. He was a Kentucky Colonel. He was also a member of The Southern Historical Association, The Ohio Academy of History, The Ohioana Library Association, The Kentucky State Historical Society, Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity, from which he won the National Service Award. With retirement Frank returned to his first love, "music". He played Tenor Sax in High School, College, Civic, Military, and Dance Bands. Family will greet friends from 6:00-8:00pm on Monday, February 13, 2012 at ROUTSONG FUNERAL HOME, 2100 East Stroop Road, Kettering. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, 3033 Far Hills Ave., Kettering 45429. Burial in Holy Trinity Cemetery in Avon, OH. Gifts in Frank's memory may be made to The Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, OH 45420, St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, and also to University of Dayton History Department, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.routsong.com.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429