Merle Matz

Merle Clifford Matz, 87, of Wooster, died Saturday, March 28, 2009, at Smithville Western Care Center in Wooster. Friends may call one hour prior at Roberts Funeral Home – Sherwood Chapel, Wooster. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11 A.M. at the funeral home with Rev. Dr. Alan E. Nathan officiating. Burial will be at Sherwood Memorial Gardens, where military rites will be held.



Online tributes may be made at www.robertsfuneralhome.com . Memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church 301 N. Market St. Wooster, Ohio 44691 or Viola Startzman Free Clinic 1874 Cleveland Road Wooster, Ohio 44691.

Clifford was born January 5, 1922 in Wooster to Merle D. and Grace E. (Neuroth) Matz. He graduated from Smithville High School. Cliff served in the Air Force during World War II for three years. He married Dorothy Cholley-Metcalf on September 8, 1972. Cliff was a self-employed commercial Pilot and flight instructor. He soloed an airplane in 1940 at age 18. During World War II he enlisted in the Air Force Reserves. Thus, he began a long association with general aviation. He instructed Army and Navy pilots in their flight training. After the war, Cliff continued instructing, flying Charter and pipeline patrol for East Ohio Natural Gas Co. He retired at age 75 after accumulating 37,000 hours of flying time. Total hours of flying 1,200,000 miles were for the pipeline patrol. He was a member of the Smithville Lions and the American Legion. For over 60 years, Cliff was a Mason at Lodge #33 in Wooster.

Cliff will be deeply missed by his wife Dorothy; children Sandra (Ray) Ebie of Orrville, Ohio, John Thomas (Melanie) Metcalf of Centerville, Ohio, Kathleen (Ron) Anders of Fredericktown, Ohio; grandchildren Heather (Heath) Wells, Brandon Bucher, Kari Bean, Tom Robinson, William (Angie) Anders, Rachel (Dr. Ed) Verzola, Tina Ebie, Mitchell Ebie and 6 great-grandchildren.