Thomas Lee Matheny

Thomas Lee Matheny (Tom), 80, of Columbia, SC passed away, Monday, December 11th surrounded by his loving family.

A celebration of life service will be held at the Kornegay & Moseley Funeral Home at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 15, 2017 with a noon graveside service to follow at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery with full military honors.

Tom was born May 18, 1937 in Greenbank, West Virginia to Josephine Lantz Matheny and Ralph Matheny. He attended Greenbank High School where he played varsity football and was prom king.  After high school, Tom enlisted in the Air Force in 1957.  He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in Business Administration. After the Air Force, Tom dabbled in real estate for a short while and became a civil servant with the U.S. Army. Through his jobs, he and his family had the opportunity to live in Germany, Turkey, Italy and Korea.

Tom loved all sports and when not playing football, baseball or basketball, he was officiating games.  He was the referee for the Harlem Globetrotters in in the early 70’s. Sports were his passion.

Tom is survived by his wife, Pina Basa Matheny (m. 12/28/92), five children, Pamela Matheny Riddle (Mike), Michael Lee Matheny (Cheryl), Josh Walter Matheny (Elise), LeTina Matheny Leix (Tony) and Jennifer Lee Matheny. Two step-children, Josephine Basa Santos (Dennis), Catherine Basa Sippl (Andy); three grand children: Jacob Riddle, Alex Matheny Allen (Jeremy), and Christian Matheny and a grand child by marriage: Taylor Lee Page. Three step-grand children: Jonis Santos, Brandon Sippl and Bryan Sippl and one great-grand child, Isaac Harper Allen and Tom’s two sisters, Sandy and Joyce.

He was predeceased by his parents, Josephine and Ralph and his brother Robert Matheny.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in Tom’s name to one of the following foundations: the Kidney Foundation, the Heart Foundation or the Diabetes Foundation.

 Service Information