Earle James Matthews Jr., 83, died Saturday, July 24, 2021, at Vitas Hospice in Jefferson Stratford Hospital, leaving behind a hell of a lot of stuff his wife and granddaughter have no idea what to do with. So, if you're looking for maybe half a dozen circular saws, kitchen grade wood, fasteners, magazines, and empty boxes you should wait the appropriate amount of time and get in touch. But this is not a yard sale ad, it's an obituary for a wonderful man, loving husband, and giving father. He came into this world with a bang on July 4, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Earle was an active member of the Lincoln High School Alumni Association, for the school he loved and attended even though he didn't stick around for graduation. He went on to actively serve in the U.S. Army for 6 years as an Airborne Ranger and came home with many mind-blowing stories from Vietnam.

After returning Earle was dedicated to his role with the Freemasons serving as a worshipful master and settling into his new career where he began his hoarding habits. He met his gorgeous wife Carol, of 49 years, and she helped him take his collection of tools and build a family home which also used some of those pieces he had been saving for some project someday. They went on to raise children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who greatly benefitted from his random gifts of carpets, rockers, and plenty of consumer report magazines to make good buying decisions.

Though Earle's family is a little angry about the heaps of "junk" he's left behind for them to deal with, the stacks of lawnmowers, the wrench sets in spades, the many tracks and trains, THOUSANDS of Christmas lights, it helps to remember that many of these items were used to spread the joy of the holiday season that he was very enthusiastic about.

He is greatly missed and survived by his lovely wife Carol Ann Matthews, his son John Martin, his daughters Wendy Briggs and Carol Miller. He considered himself a very lucky man to be able to watch his granddaughters, Holly and Brooke grow into adults; and be part of Holly and her husband Dan's, who will be inheriting at least a quarter or Earle's junk, growth as a family to include his great-grandchildren Mercadies, Daniel, and Jordyn.

Tool sales and funeral services at 12:00 pm on Saturday July 31, 2021, at the Weber Funeral Home, 112 Broad Street, Riverton, NJ 08077, with their dear family friend, John Shaffer officiating. Viewing hours will be from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project by phone at 1-855-448-3997 or online at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate