William C. "Gabby" Mathis

William C. "Gabby" Mathis, 84, of Bollinger Loop, Morganton, NC went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at his residence after an extended illness. Born on September 24, 1925 in Buncombe County, NC, he was the son of the late Samuel Walter Mathis and Ellie Honeycutt Mathis. Gabby retired from Drexel Heritage after 37 years of service, during which he worked in plant 5. He also worked at Wamsutta Knitting Mills. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII and a member of Nowlings Chapel Freewill Baptist Church.Left to cherish his memory are his children and their spouses, Bobby and Wanda Mathis, Sam and Elizabeth Mathis, and Johnny and Patrice Mathis all of Morganton, Rev. Douglas Mathis and Debbie of Hemingway, SC, and Louise and Carlos Hamby of Granite Falls, NC; a sister, Doris Brackett of Fletcher, NC; five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.In addition to his parents, Gabby was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Mary "Fronia" Davis Mathis; children, David Mathis, Vanessa Mathis, and Van Doran Mathis; a brother, Chester Mathis; sisters, Lillian Cooper and Maxine Morrow; and a granddaughter, Wendy Franklin.The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at Nowlings Chapel Freewill Baptist Church with Reverends Doug Mathis and Darvy Hensley officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors provided by Valdese American Legion Post #234. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes prior to the funeral hour. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690.