Carolyn Douglass Matthews

Carolyn Douglass Matthews, 89, of Cincinnati (formerly of Wilmington) passed away Thursday, October 17, 2024 at Barrington of Oakley Senior Living.  Her husband, Fred C. Matthews Jr., survives.  They were married on August 27, 1955.  She was born April 9, 1935 in Hamilton, Ohio, daughter of the late Donald Douglass and Mildred Kelly Douglass.  She was a graduate of Wilmington College and received her master’s degree in library science from Wright State University.

Mrs. Matthews retired in 1992 after serving as the librarian at Wilmington High School for 35 years.  She had served on the Board of Trustees for Wilmington College and was involved in Leadership Clinton and numerous other civic and social organizations.  Carolyn attended the Wilmington Friends Meeting for many years and in 2007 she was selected as one of the Outstanding Women of Clinton County.  She and her husband loved to travel and had visited six continents and over 100 countries.

In addition to her husband, Carolyn is survived by her children, Melissa Gallagher of Cincinnati, Ohio, Melanie (Dan) Powers of West Chester, Ohio, and Douglass (Blanka) Matthews of Prague, Czech Republic; five grandchildren, Colin Gallagher, Cara Gallagher, Mitchell Powers, Martin Powers, and Nathan Matthews; four nieces; and one nephew.  In addition to her parents, a brother, Robert Douglass, preceded her in death.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at Smith Funeral Home, 327 N. South Street, Wilmington, Ohio.  A funeral service will follow at 1:00 PM, Wednesday.  Burial will be in Sugar Grove Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Carolyn’s memory can be made to the Friends of the Library, 268 N. South St., Wilmington, OH 45177.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carolyn Douglass Matthews, please visit our floral store.