William Peter Matthes, III died unexpectedly on June 3, 2016 at Tobey Hospital, Wareham. He was 77 years old. Born in Newton and raised in Needham, he was the son of the late William P. Matthes, Jr. and Margaret K. (Fraser) Matthes. Mr. Matthes raised his three children in Walpole with his bride, Dolores.
He graduated from Needham High in 1957. He served in the U.S. Navy on the submarine USS Sablefish 303. After leaving the Navy, he worked as a Needham Police Officer for 38 years. He was one of the original members of the Needham Police Underwater Dive Team. Mr. Matthes was a patrolman and a detective. He worked details for two years during his retirement. After completely retiring from the department, he was employed by Outback Engineering in Middleboro for five years.
Mr. Matthes married Dolores J. Bleiler at the Church of Incarnation in Melrose in 1968. Once retired, they moved permanently to Brandt Beach in Mattapoisett to live in the home that he had built with friends in 1964. This was the same home where he and his family had enjoyed many summers together.
He loved being outdoors and made wonderful memories with his family and friends. Boating in Mattapoisett was just one of his favorite pastimes. He enjoyed tinkering in his shed and taking care of his beautiful property in Mattapoisett. His cabin in Jamaica, Vermont was his second home where he spent lots of time outdoors fishing, hunting, and camping with his son, Peter, brother, David, and many other friends and family members. A man of great faith, he was a devoted Catholic and was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church.
However, there was no greater love in Peter’s life than his bride, Dolores J. (Bleiler) Matthes. More than anything else, he was a family man. He loved Dolores and their children with his whole heart and showed this love every day. Peter was enamored with his children and he was an integral part of their lives. He seemed to glow when he spent time with them and his six grandchildren. He was so proud of their accomplishments.
In addition to his bride, Dolores, Mr. Matthes leaves behind his son, Peter Matthes, his wife, Heather, and grandson, Alex, of Medway. He also leaves his daughters, Kristen Berthao, her husband Richard, and his grandchildren, Chris and Katie, of Norton, and Laura Youngquist, her husband, Jason and his grandchildren, Matthew, Meghan and Liam of Middleboro. He is survived by his brother, David Matthes, of Virginia and a niece and two nephews.
His life will be celebrated at a funeral mass that will be held on Thursday at 10 AM at Saint Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett. Burial will follow at St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Calling hours at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals will be held from 4-7 PM on Wednesday.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, St. Anthony’s Church, P.O. Box 501, Mattapoisett, MA 02739.
For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com