Victor Lewis Mathis' Obituary
Victor Lewis Mathis, age 77, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed away on August 11, 2025, after a courageous battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Victor was born on January 14, 1948, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated high school at Little Rock Central High in 1966. Although Victor lived in Arkansas, he held cherished memories of his childhood summers spent with family in Louisiana. These memories drew him to Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, where he graduated in 1970 on a tennis scholarship. Following his graduation, Victor proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps and later retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Although his military service and love for adventure took him around the world, Arkansas was always home. Victor settled in Fayetteville 29 years ago after marrying his beloved wife, Gwendolyn, in 1996. A man of simple pleasures, he loved the outdoors, spending countless hours in his workshop, golfing, boating, and hunting. He was an avid sports fan, always cheering on the LSU Tigers, and he never turned down a good Cajun meal. Above all, Victor treasured the memories made watching football with his family and working in his greenhouse with his wife.
Victor was preceded in death by his sisters Betty Smith and Mary Ives, his brother John Walker, and his grandson Eli Victor Mathis.
He is survived by his loving wife, Gwendolyn of Fayetteville; his son Stanley Mathis and his wife Jeana of Elkins, Arkansas; his daughter Rachael Pitman and her husband Luke of Dayton, Ohio; his step son Shawn Sutton of Fayetteville, Arkansas; his brother Russell Mathis and his wife Deborah of Little Rock, Arkansas; and his sister Rebecca Ginger and her husband Darrell of Fayetteville, Arkansas. He also leaves behind his cherished grandchildren: Faith, Jasper, and Mary Mathis; Rowan, Evelynn, and Judah Pitman; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Viewing services will be held at Moore’s Chapel Fayetteville, AR on Thursday August 14th, 5pm-7pm. Funeral service will be held at the National Cemetery of Fayetteville, AR 12:30pm on Friday, August 15th.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in Victor’s memory to Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale, Arkansas.
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