William Simeon Mattingly, age 95, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Briarwood Village in Coldwater, Ohio.

He was born on July 27, 1927, in Loretto, Kentucky to the late Joseph Bryan and Mary Bridgett (Russell) Mattingly. On May 22, 1953, he married his beloved wife of 59 years, Marita Joan Winhoven at Holy Trinity Church in Coldwater.

He was a loving father to daughter Mary (Rayman) Belkofer (New Albany) and to sons James (Deborah) Mattingly (Phillipsburg), Robert (Mary) Mattingly (St. Henry), and Richard (Melanie) Mattingly (Findlay). He was very proud of his 10 grandchildren: Alex and Ross (Molly) Belkofer, Eric (Chastity) Master, Bryan (Nikki), Allison, Brent, Brianne (Russell Blystone), Brooke (Nick Rousch), Lydia (Nathan Forstoefel), and Lucas Mattingly. He was blessed to spend some time with his 6 great-grandchildren: Abrahm and Griffin Blystone, Duke and Francis Rousch, and Mason and Amelia Mattingly.

He is survived by three sisters: Emma Jean Miles, Mary Bridgett Mattingly, and Ann Sophia Barr, all of KY, and sisters-in-law Mary Ann Steinbrunner of Coldwater, and Mary Rita Mattingly and Betty Mattingly of KY.

He was preceded in death by siblings and spouses: Sara Eudora (Red) Walker, Joseph Rueben (Helen), Charles David, Mary Frances (Jack) Conn, Joseph Bryan, Jr. (Margaret), Theresa Benita (Howard) Lamkin, and in-laws/spouses: Robert Miles, Thomas Barr, John Steinbrunner, Ralph Winhoven, Rosella Winhoven, Virgil (Wilma) Winhoven, Harold (Esther) Winhoven, Paul Winhoven, and Vernon Winhoven. He also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, and special neighbors from his 47 years of residence on Menchhofer Road.   He was an avid gardener who was often seen tending to his yard and garden.

Mr. Mattingly was a World War II veteran and a dedicated teacher of 38 years in Mercer County. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, Indiana and a master's degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He started his teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in Carthagena and then taught middle school at both Immaculate Conception in Celina and St. Anthony.     

Winning a basketball tournament against the formidable St. Henry team was a special memory that he recalled while at St. Anthony! He spent many years in the Coldwater school system as both a teacher and a principal at West Elementary and North Middle School. He wanted to spend his remaining years in education as a teacher, so he ended his career as a middle-school English teacher at Marion Local. He worked with many fine educators over the years whom he considered both colleagues and friends.

Visitation will be held at Hogenkamp Funeral Home in St. Henry, OH on Tuesday, March 7, from 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, March 8, at 10:30 A.M. at Holy Trinity Church in Coldwater with burial in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, also in Coldwater.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to EverHeart Hospice. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.