William and Marilyn Mattox

Marilyn Louise Mattox

Marilyn Louise Mattox, an educator and 53-year resident of Colton CA, passed away in her sleep
December 1, 2022, after a long battle with dementia. She was 90 years old.
Marilyn Louise Snyder was born May 23, 1932, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her family later moved to
Brownsburg, Indiana, where she attended high school and met her future husband, William Mattox. After
graduation, Marilyn studied nursing but chose instead to marry a career Air Force man. In 1968, after
living in several different states across the country, the family settled in Colton, California.
Marilyn returned to university in the 1970s and received her master’s degree and teaching credentials
from the California State University San Bernardino. Shortly thereafter, she began her teaching career
with the Colton Unified School District, with most of her years being spent teaching kindergarten at
Terrace View Elementary School in Grand Terrace, California. She retired from teaching in 1998, after
which she often traveled the country with her husband.
Marilyn loved children. In addition to raising six of her own and teaching school, she was a foster parent;
she taught Sunday school and lead vacation Bible school sessions. Mrs. Mattox was also very involved
with the Colton library and reading and literacy programs for kids and adults. She always had a smile and
a hug available for anyone who needed it.
Marilyn was a member of the Colton Woman's Club. She was a member of the United Methodist Church
of Colton and later, the Colton Community Church, where she was a steadfast part of the weekly prayer
group. Her main hobbies included quilt making, painting, and various craft projects.
Marilyn passed away at Brightwater Senior Living facility in Highland. She is preceded in death by her
sister, Dorothy. Survivors include her brother, Howard Snyder, her children, Ann Huntoon, Michael
Mattox, Robert Mattox, John Mattox, Matthew Mattox, and Katherine DeCosta, plus 14 grandkids and
13 great-grandkids. Her husband of 71 years passed away only 19 days after her own death.
Services and funeral arrangements are being handled by the Colton Funeral Home. Services are scheduled
for January 11, 2023, at 10:45. She will be laid to rest alongside her husband at the Riverside National
Cemetery in Riverside, CA.

William Earl Mattox

William (Bill) Mattox, a 53-year resident of Colton, CA, passed away in his sleep on December 20, 2022
after battling Parkinson’s disease for the past 10 years. He was 91 years old.
Bill was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana. He attended and graduated
from Brownsburg High School, where he met his future wife. Marilyn Snyder.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he
specialized in airplane mechanics. He retired from the USAF after 22 years at the rank of Master
Sergeant. During his years in the Air Force, he was stationed and/or lived in numerous countries and
states before settling in Colton California in 1968. He and his wife remained there for 53 years before
moving to Highland’s Brightwater Senior Living facility two years ago.
After retiring from the USAF, Bill began a second career as a Building and Maintenance
supervisor for the City of San Bernardino. Seventeen years later, he retired again. After this second
retirement, he and his wife spent many enjoyable years traveling across the country, visiting extended
family, National Parks, and other points of interest. Bill served on the Colton Public Library as a trustee.
He was very involved with the Colton Community Church in Colton and volunteered many services
including maintaining critical infrastructure and building an addition to the church’s main structure. His
main hobbies included construction-type projects and tinkering around in his shop. He was the family’s
master fixer of all things.
Bill’s wife of 71 years, Marilyn, proceeded him in death by only 19 days. He also outlived his three
sisters, Dorothy, Mildred, and Norma Jean. Bill is survived by his children, Ann Huntoon, Michael
Mattox, Robert Mattox, John Mattox, Matthew Mattox, and Katherine DeCosta, plus 14 grandchildren
and 13 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services and arrangements are being handled by the Colton Funeral Home. Services are scheduled
for January 11, 2023, at 10:45. He and his wife will be laid to rest at the Riverside National Cemetery in
Riverside, California.