Robert ("Bob") Brown Matthews, age 88, passed away at home on May 14th, 2025, surrounded by family. Bob's life was deeply shaped by his Christian faith, love of science, intellectual curiosity, interest in people, concern for those in need, and a deep love for his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by those who loved him.

Born to John and Marion Matthews, on September 9,1936, Bob's early years were spent in Bogota, NJ. Their Scot-Irish home emphasized the importance of thrift, diligence, academic excellence and Biblical principles.

WW II moved the family to Dayton, OH where Bob's father joined the war effort by overseeing the finances of Western Tablet & Stationary Corp. During these formative years, Bob became a fan of the Cleveland Indians and Browns, whom he followed by radio and crystal set. Most importantly, he made an eight-year-old's decision to follow Jesus. At age ten, Bob spent his first of 11 summers at Camp Brookwoods in Alton, NH where he made life-long friends, gained skills in sports and camping, and observed compelling Christian role models.

In 1952, the family returned to NJ where Bob's dad resumed his role at Chase Bank, in NYC, and Bob finished his final two years of high school, graduating from Ridgewood High School in 1954.

During the summer of 1955, after his freshman year at Wheaton College, Bob's life was forever altered when as a swim instructor and camp counselor, he contracted bulbar polio from a camper. While his life was spared, polio permanently affected his vagus nerve, resulting in laryngeal paralysis and loss of a productive cough that plagued him for the rest of his life.

Bob resumed studies at home, returning to Wheaton mid-semester, eventually graduating in 1958, earning a BS in Chemistry with high honors. Medical school took him to Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, where he graduated with AOA Honors in 1962.

For his health, Bob traded the cold of PA for the sunshine of CA. In San Diego, he did an internship and one year of Pathology at Mercy Hospital before moving to Palo Alto for a three- year residency in Ophthalmology at Stanford. In 1967, Bob joined the Los Altos practice of Dr. Frank Berry, one of his Clinical Professors, and practiced at Altos Eye Physicians with outstanding associates until 1997. During these 30 years Bob relished meaningful friendships
with both staff and patients.

On a blind date he met his future wife, Charlene, a dental hygienist and instructor of Dental Hygiene at UCSF who shared his faith and interest in missions. Six months later, on January 29, 1966, they married at First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, eventually making their home in Los Altos, CA. In 1969, three months after daughter Karen arrived, Pritchett Court became home. Daughter Kathleen followed in 1971.

Life became busy but Bob found time to be active in Young Life, encourage the extracurricular pursuits of his girls, and enjoy the families and 33 kids that called Pritchett Court, dubbed, "Pritchett Playground", their home. The family joined and actively participated in the life of Foothill Covenant Church, establishing friendships with whom life's milestones, joys, vacations, illnesses and holidays were shared.

Active pursuits included skiing in the Sierras, tent and trailer camping, attending family camp at Mount Hermon, and biennial vacations on the East Coast. During one fateful vacation the family met an Amish family, the Kings in PA, whose friendship endures to this day.

In 1980, after a severe case of bronchitis an emergency tracheotomy was required. What initially felt like a setback led to a permanent tracheostomy that provided an effective cough and improved clearing of chest infections for over 45 years.

Throughout his life, Bob loved pondering the big questions - especially exploring the claims of Christ, rigorously considering their historic credibility and relevance to his life. While many people influenced his faith, Bob cited several who impacted him most. As a senior in high school, new vistas of Christian thought were opened after reading "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis with Dr. F. Donald Eckelmann, who would go on to become Dean at Brown University, and a lifelong friend. While in medical school, the formidable expository Biblical preaching of Dr. Donald Barnhouse, at Tenth Presbyterian Church, impacted Bob's worldview. And finally, the friendship of Dr. Richard Bube, a world-renowned expert in photoelectronic materials at Stanford and Christian Apologist, confirmed for Bob that Science is not at odds with Scripture. In that vein, Dr Francis S Collins book, "The Language of God," also reflected Bob's viewpoint.

Ultimately, Bob marveled at the beauty of God's handiwork as revealed through Science and put his faith in the promise of salvation by grace alone, through Christ's death and bodily resurrection, as revealed in Scripture.

With diligent respiratory care, a supportive wife, and God's grace, Bob was able to enjoy his retirement years. He trusted the words of Jesus found in John 14, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Bob is survived by Charlene, his wife of 59 years; daughter Karen (Kreig) Ecklund of Los Altos; daughter Kathleen (William Papp) Matthews, of NYC; grandchildren Kaitlyn (Paolo) Roque, Kaleb Ecklund, Keyara Ecklund; brother Gordon (Susan) of Santa Rosa, CA, nephews John and Robert; and niece Cheryl.

A Celebration of Life and reception will be held at 2pm, on August 9th, 2025 at Foothill Covenant Church, 1555 Oak Ave, Los Altos, CA 94024. The service will be both live-streamed and recorded on YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOdDIyZa-W4 ).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made towards the educational non-profit, Keyara's Gift, which supports children in Liberia, West Africa  and was inspired by Bob's granddaughter, Keyara Ecklund. ( https://www.keyarasgift.org/ )