Rodney K. Matchett, 74, of West Lafayette died December 11, 2014 at Kobacker House Hospice in Columbus following a short illness.
Rodney was born June 5, 1940 to Russell and Edna (Oliver) Matchett at Adamsville, Ohio. He was a 1958 graduate of Adamsville High School. Rodney began his work career at R.M. Bluck & Son, then as a transmission mechanic at Coshocton Buckeye Motors. In 1962 he started at Columbus and Southern Ohio Electric Co. (AEP) as a welder, eventually becoming certified and promoted to maintenance foreman from which he retired in 1995. Since retiring Rodney spent his winters in Lakeland, Fla. He enjoyed traveling, hunting big game in Colorado and Wyoming; attending NASCAR races at Daytona and flying his airplane. Rodney was a member of West Lafayette United Methodist Church, 50 year member of West Lafayette Masonic Lodge 602, Scottish Rite Valley of Cambridge, and Coshocton Elks Lodge. During the spring months he assisted his wife Judy with the operation of her greenhouse business. He also volunteered for several years as an auxiliary deputy on the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Department.
Rodney is survived by companion Evelyn Davis of newcomerstown; sons Scott (Cheryl) Matchett, John (Becky) Matchett, daughters Ann M. Phillips, and Tracy (Randy) Troendly all of West Lafayette; grandchildren Shelby, Amanda and Wade Matchett, Colt and Kacie Phillips and Cyanna West all of West Lafayette and Ryan (Morgan) Thomas of California; brothers Stanley (Barbara) Matchett of Maryland and Wesley (Tracy) Matchett of Coshocton; brother-in-law Jack (Jan) Whitehawk of West Lafayette; first wife Jane Matchett Kreidler; several nieces and nephews and many cousins.
Along with his parents Rodney is preceded in death by his wife Judy whom he married August 15, 1970 and who died November 29, 2013; and brother-in-law Lonnie Young .
Friends may call at the Miller Funeral Home, 639 Main Street, Coshocton on Thursday, December 18, 2014 from 4:00PM-7:00PM with Masonic services to be held at 7:00PM. Friends also may call one hour prior to the funeral service which will be at 11:00 AM on Friday at the West Lafayette United Methodist Church with Rev. William Buckeye officiating. Entombment will follow in Fairfield Cemetery, West Lafayette.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to Kobacker House Hospice, 800 McConnell Road, Columbus, Ohio 43214 or Hospice of Coshocton, P.O. Box 1284, Coshocton, Ohio 43812, envelopes will be available at the funeral home.