Donnie was a most generous man, always willing to help anyone who had a need.

A public service to celebrate Donnie’s life will be held on Saturday November 20, 2021, which will be held at LCBC Manheim Campus in the west wing.

Donnie Wade Mathews, 70, of Mount Joy ran into the arms of Jesus on the morning of November 11, 2021. He was born on September 25, 1951 in Moultrie, GA to parents Floyd and Lovelace Mathews. He was, however, raised by his Aunt Maude and Uncle Tilman, whom he loved dearly. After being discharged from the Army in 1973, he moved to Pennsylvania. He loved to be outdoors and enjoyed hunting. He could often be found at Dairy Queen, ordering a Butterfinger Blizzard with extra, extra marshmallow. And in recent months he had found the joy of collecting coins and going to auctions with his dear friends.

Donnie was a most generous man, always willing to help anyone who had a need. He truly never met a stranger he didn’t like. He met his wife, Winnie Mathews. In 1981 when they both were working for Greiner Industries in Elizabethtown. It truly was love at first sight! He and his wife were partners at LCBC, Manheim Campus, where they served as greeters for the KidMinistry. It brought him great joy as he watched the kids slide down the sliding board and into the KidMin room.  He loved Jesus Christ with all his heart, and wanted everyone to know the joy of knowing Him, as well. He had a passion to share Jesus with those caught in the cycle of addiction, and always wanted to help those who were less fortunate than himself.

Donnie was a man who always loved his family first. He enjoyed spending time with them, going out to eat, having cookouts together, and telling wild and grand stories. His grandchildren were truly the apples of his eye. He loved spending time on the floor, playing cars and trucks with his great grandson, and snuggling for hours on end with his newest great granddaughter.

Donnie leaves behind his wife of nearly forty years, Winifred (Winnie Keesey) Mathews of Mount Joy; two daughters, Crystal (Burkhart) Silkworth, fiancée of Michael Hawthrone, and Nikki (Burkhart) Geesey, wife of Jake Geesey, both of Mount Joy; four grandchildren, Gracelyn Silkworth, partner of Nathan Bucks of Elizabethtown, Tenley Silkworth of Sykesville, MD, Kaylee Geesey and Keegan Geesey, both of Mount Joy; two step granddaughters, Candice Hawthrone and Temperance Hawthrone, both of Mount Joy; and two great grandchildren, Alfred Matthew Bucks and Theadora Ruby Bucks, both of Elizabethtown. He also leaves behind his little dog Blossom. She was truly his best friend. He pampered her by microwaving her food and spreading it out on a placemat to make it easier for her to chew. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Daniel Paul Geesey and his mother-in-law, Nancy Keesey.

There will be a private viewing for the family on Friday afternoon, November 19, 2021. 

A public service to celebrate Donnie’s life will be held on Saturday November 20, 2021, which will be held at LCBC Manheim Campus in the west wing. There will be a time to visit with the family from 10-10:30, with the celebration service beginning at 10:30. Dress is casual.

Donnie’s heart was to provide clean water to people in underprivileged areas of the world. So, in lieu of flowers, please make donations in Donnie’s memory tohttps://donate.worldvision.org/gift-catalog/clean-water#active

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