Richard K. Mattern

Richard Kenneth “Ken” Mattern, 96, of Kissimmee, Florida, passed away peacefully Monday, May 29, 2023 surrounded by his family at HCA Florida Osceola Hospital. He was born in East Liverpool, Ohio and moved to Kissimmee, Florida, in 1977.

Richard was a World War II Navy veteran who served as a Sonarman on the USS Clarence L. Evans (DE-113) in the Atlantic Fleet. He was a past master of East Liverpool Masonic Lodge #681, a 32nd degree Mason with the Valley of Steubenville Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He received recognition for achieving 50 years of service as a Mason. He was also a lifetime member of the American Legion.

A graduate of East Liverpool High School, Richard was selected for Buckeye Boys State and contributed to Keramos Echo. Later, he studied accounting at Ohio Valley Business College.

Richard worked for Crucible Steel Company at the plant in Midland, Pa., for over 30 years. He retired as safety engineer in 1977 where he navigated the implementation of regulations of the newly established Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) for the plant. He also held management positions in Office Services Department and Employment and worked in accounting.

Richard was an active leader in the community throughout his life. In East Liverpool, he served as choir director, Sunday school teacher and an elder in the Glenmoor Presbyterian Church and was president of the Glenmoor PTA. He was a member of the Columbiana County Regional Planning Commission and worked on zoning for the county to include Columbiana County Airport. He also represented Crucible Steel on the East Liverpool Chamber of Commerce. In Kissimmee, he served as President of Kissimmee Neighborhood Watch and participated in other community committees for the City of Kissimmee.

Richard loved music, enjoyed singing, treasured playing his organ and keyboards and left a legacy of music to his family. He sang with several church choirs and the Crucible Chorus. He was known to entertain the public with his talents by sitting in as organist at Kay Bee Roller Rink in East Liverpool and later performing with his keyboards at the local farmer’s market in Kissimmee. Richard was also a gifted artist who enjoyed painting and sketching. He later transitioned his artistic abilities to digital art by teaching himself photo editing in the early days of home computing.

Richard’s family includes his wife of 73 years, whom he married June 21, 1949, Eula Mae (Doughty) Mattern; three sons, Richard K. Mattern Jr., Larry Mattern and his wife Lissette, and Jeff Mattern and his wife Kaye; three daughters, Dorothy “Betsy” Woessner and her companion Nick Shadid, Tanya Lewis and her husband Mark, and Suzanne Mattern; 13 grandchildren, Karl Mattern and his wife Emmalee, Jennifer Norfolk and her husband Scott, Floyd Mattern and his wife Shannon, Jakob Mattern, Heidi Mattern, Dylan Woessner, Ariel Woessner, Kayleigh Magrath and her husband Patrick, Nathan Lewis and his wife Ariel, Maddie Lewis, Krizia Mendez and her husband Stephen, Neil Mattern and his wife Charity and Daniel Mattern; six great-grandchildren, Everett Mattern, Ryker Mattern, Loyal Mattern, Issac Norfolk, Helen Norfolk and Josephine Norfolk; two brothers, Robert “Buddy” and David Mattern; two sisters, Ruth Estell and Alice “Audrey” Rockenhauser. A service celebrating Richard’s life will be conducted by the family in the chapel at Columbiana County Memorial Park where East Liverpool Masonic Lodge 681 will conduct a Masonic funeral service and Tri State Veterans Burial Group will provide military honors. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Dawson Funeral Home.

View Richard’s memorial webpage and express condolences online at www.dawsonfuneralhome.com.

6/10/23