Even for someone who has worked with aircraft all of his life, Art Matthews was flying high May 22 when he turned 100. The Village North resident was overwhelmed with good wishes from family and friends that made his day special.
Matthews is an 18-month resident of Village North, and his wife of 70 years, Polly lives with him at Village North Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. He enjoys reading, taking three books at a time from the library and doing crossword puzzles. Matthews also enjoys doing watercolor and was thinking as a young man of becoming a professional artist after attending the Art Institute of Chicago for a year.
But "the music got him" and he played bass and other instruments on the President River Boat instead of pursuing art. It was on a trip to New Orleans that he met Polly. Matthews still enjoyed doing watercolors until recently and his room displays two of his works.
He finished college in the depression and came out with a general engineering degree and went to work on aircraft. He is most proud of his work at McDonnell Douglas on the F-15 fighter jets. He also worked on planes during WWII, his specialty engine installation and fuel systems.
To what does Matthews attribute his longevity? "I've lived so long because I've had a good wife."