EAST BEND -- Mr. Joe Carroll Matthews , 65, of East Bend, died on November 14, 1997 at his home. He was born on April 28, 1932 at the home of his parents Plato K. Matthews and Cherrie Matthews. He graduated from East Bend High School and went on to attend Guilford College, where he played baseball, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1954. Mr. Matthews served the public in many different ways over the next 40 years. He began his career as a school teacher in Yadkin County and then continued to serve the people of Yadkin County as the Director of Yadkin County Department of Social Services. He was honored as one of the outstanding social workers of the year in North Carolina in 1965. In 1966 Mr. Matthews became the Executive Director of what is now called the Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments. His accomplishments in this capacity were extensvie and include but are by no means limited to involvement in the following areas: extensive community service work in Yadkin County, the development of Pilot Mountain State Park and the Yadkin River Trail System, the expansion of Hanging Rock State Park, the addition of the New River to the National Wild and Scenic River System, the development of the Horne Creek Living Historical Farm, the Jockey Ridge State Park, the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Committee, establishment of library facilities in each county of the Northwest Piedmont, and historic sites preservation projects including the Richmond Hill Law School and historic Rockford. He received the Governor's Award for Conservation of Natural Areas in 1977. This list does not do justice to Mr. Matthews accomplishments. He retired on December 20, 1993. Mr. Matthews was a member of East Bend United Methodist Church and served on the Building Committee. In the spring of 1996 Mr. Matthews was diagnosed with cancer. True to his character Mr. Matthews fought a courageous fight. He was always concerned about the needs of others and never wanted attention to be drawn to himself whether in his work or during his illness. Mr. Matthews was loved dearly by his family. He is survived by his mother, Cherrie Matthews, his sister Anne M. Hardy and her husband Bill Hardy, his brother, Kenneth G. Matthews and his wife Martha Jane Matthews; his daughters Laurie Matthews Engstrom and her husband Dr. Paul C. Engstrom, and Susan Lynn Bailey and her husband Dr. Thomas D. Bailey; his son Warren Andrew Matthews; his former wife Joanne Smitherman Matthews. The pride and joy of "Papa Joe's" life were his grandchildren Paul and Elliot Engstrom, and Tim, Kate, Jackie, Allison, John, and Alex Bailey. He also held dear his many nieces and nephews along with their families. Mr. Matthews was preceded in death by his father Plato K. Matthews. Mr. Matthews leaves us a model of community service and concern for God's creation which we would all do well to follow. He will be dearly missed by so many people who call Joe their friend and by his family who will always remember him as Papa Joe. There will be a visitation at the Huff Funeral Home, East Bend on Sunday, November 16, 1997 from 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral service will be on Monday November 17, 1997 at 2 PM at East Bend United Methodist Church. The family appreciates the care of Dr. Judith Hopkins and the staff at Triad Hematology Oncology, the nursing staff at Forsyth Memorial Hospital, and Hospice of Yadkin/Surry County. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Matthews requested that memorials be sent directly to the Horne Creek Living Historical Farm, 320 Hauser Rd., Pinnacle, N.C. 27043.