Charles L. Matula

Charles L. Matula Charles Ludwig Matula, 82, of Longview passed on to heaven on December 30, 2012, after a brief illness in Austin. Charles was born in Houston in 1930 and grew up in a large Catholic family. Most of his childhood years were spent in the small community of Hallettsville, Texas, where his ancestors had settled in the previous in century. He graduated from St. Thomas High School in Houston in 1949, then served honorably in the U.S. Army during the Korean War era. After his military discharge, Charles moved to Dallas where he went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Charles spent his entire working career with Southwestern Bell, first in Dallas and later in Longview where he moved with his wife and family in the late 1960s. Charles climbed many poles in his early years before trading in his spikes and belt for work on the ground. He had many friends at Southwestern Bell and retired in 1986. Charles met the love of his life Bettie Modisette at a dance in Dallas. They married there in 1955. Charles and Bettie came from very different backgrounds. But they deeply loved and respected one another and built a full life during their 57 years of marriage. They were partners in the truest sense, and cared for one another until their recent parting. Charles was a longtime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church where he served as an usher. Until the end, Charles enjoyed being with his family and his friends. Those who met Charles were never strangers for long. Charles enjoyed fishing, taking long walks, watching wrestling and the Dallas Cowboys. Charles was predeceased by his parents Frank J. and Mary A. Matula, by his sister Doris and by his brother Thomas. He is survived by his wife Bettie and their four children: Nancy Lee of Longview, Debra Wier and her husband Stephen of Cedar Creek, Texas, Chuck Matula and his wife Pattie of Washington, Texas, and Paul Matula and his wife Bebe of Austin. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Robert Lee and his wife Tanja of Austin, John Lee of Golden, Colorado, Elizabeth Lee of Leipzig, Germany, Joseph Lee of San Antonio, Thomas and Margaret Lee of Longview and their father RC Lee, Candice Demel and her husband Jason of Houston and great grandson Grayson Demel, Melissa Matula of College Station, Stephen Duff Wier of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Sarah Wier of Webster, Texas, Rachel Wier of Bryan, Megan Wier of Galveston, and Chuck and Agnes Matula of Austin. He is survived by his sisters Emily Maggard of Corsicana and Katy Bouska and husband Charles of Ennis, and his brothers Frank Matula and his wife Helen of Houston, and Jim Matula and wife Gertrude of Dallas. Charles' many nieces and nephews will miss their Uncle Bubba. A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at Rader Funeral Home of Longview. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 3, in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home. Father Mark Dunn will officiate. Entombment will follow in Rosewood Park Mausoleum. Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday following the Rosary. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Austin's Christopher House, 2820 E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Austin, TX 78702. www.hospiceaustin.org.

Charles L. Matula

October 24, 1930 - December 30, 2012