Reverend John William “Bill” Matthews died on October 11, 2026, at 93 years.
Born in Marathon, Texas (Brewster County), on February 2, 1933, son of the late educators Clarence Garrett “CG” and Myrtle Martha Ing Matthews, Bill Matthews grew up in Marathon, Fort Davis, Ysleta, and Marfa, Texas; he graduated Marfa High School in 1950 with wife-to-be Norma Alma Tevis, whose family had recently moved from New Jersey that year.
Bill married Norma in 1954 and graduated with a BA in radio-speech and music from Texas Christian University in 1955. Ordained in 1956 in the Methodist Church, Central Texas Conference, he served churches in Christian education and music ministries in Fort Worth; Las Cruces, New Mexico; Dallas; and Sherman, Texas. He completed his Bachelor of Divinity at Perkins School of Theology (SMU).
Appointed by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries as missionaries in 1964, he, Norma and four daughters moved to Manila, Philippines, from 1965-69. He served as DZCH program director, then executive director of Mass Media for the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. Making global connections, he served as delegate to the 1967 and 1968 conferences of the East Asia Conference (Korea), the World Association of Christian Communications (Norway), and the World Council of Churches (Sweden).
During a year of furlough, Bill and Norma each completed MA degrees at University of Texas Austin, his in communication theories, hers in foreign language education in 1970. He was appointed to affiliation with the Pacific Conference of Churches based in Suva, Fiji, South Pacific in 1970, and after language school in Le Chambon sur Lignon, France, he served as a broadcast and media consultant to Pacific Island countries from 1971-73, traveling frequently and sharing his talents in communications and music in the numerous places.
Upon return to the U.S. in 1973, he came home to an appointment at University Park United Methodist Church, Dallas, then to the Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio (1975-1979), then director of Perkins Relations at Perkins School of Theology, SMU (1979-90), the North Texas Conference staff (1990-93), and Highland Park UMC (1993-97).
After retirement from church appointments, he continued his mission of ecumenical, interfaith, and global connections. He worked with the Greater Dallas Community of Churches and the United Methodist Russia Initiative (part of the Library of Congress Russia Leadership Program) leading citizen diplomacy trips to the Russian Federation and arranging U.S. hosts for Russian visitors. He and Norma found great meaning in using their cross-cultural experiences to invite others to build bridges.
He was honored with lifetime achievement awards by the United Methodist Association of Communicators, the Dallas Peace Center, and with wife Norma, the Goodman Award by United Nations Association USA. He served as board president of the Dallas Peace Center, Interfaith Council of Thanks-Giving Foundation, and United Nations Association of the USA, as president of the Dallas chapter, Texas division and regional representative to the UNA USA steering committee from 2000 to 2015. He and Norma co-authored a history of the Dallas chapter of the United Nations Association titled Hope Over Fear (2017).
A talented musician with a beautiful voice, Bill shared his gift with generosity as a soloist in church choirs, principle in musical theater, around social gatherings, and as lead singer in the family troupe. Norma, as his number one pianist, and the family used music throughout his life to connect with people all over the world. The University Park United Methodist Church commissioned an anthem “To Build a Bridge” (Mark A. Miller and Lindy Thompson, 2025) to honor Bill and Norma Matthews for their work promoting justice, peace, and reconciliation around the world. As a final tribute to the couple, it premiered at the church in Dallas on March 1, 2026.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 72 years, Norma Alma Tevis Matthews, daughters Debra Susan (Daniel Shrader), Nancy (Lisa Frohmann), Rebecca (Perry Taylor), and Mary Beth Matthews; grandchildren, Sean Taylor, Paul David Shrader, Justin Taylor (Diana Taylor), Jesse Shrader, Jamie Graham, Travis Taylor (Minjung Kim), and Eli Frohmann-Matthews; and great-grandchildren Jade, Isaiah, Shusha, Deckard, Carter, and Gizelle
Bill and Norma have resided at Juliette Fowler Communities in an apartment for the past 10 years. They have faithfully shared their musical talents, with Norma playing the piano and Bill singing and occasionally speaking at the Fowler Chapel.
Memorial services will be held on November 13, 2026, at 11 a.m., at the University Park United Methodist Church, 4024 Caruth Blvd., Dallas, TX 75225.
Donations in memory of John William Matthews can be made to University Park United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas.
