William “Bill” Oscar Mattox, 87, made his transition back home on Saturday, January 16, 2021 with his loving children Steven and Joan at his bedside.
Born in Elberton, Georgia on December 4, 1933 to Marietta (Heard) and Felix Mattox, he soon moved to Knoxville, Tennessee as a young child. Bill joined the church at a young age and being musically inclined, he also learned to play the trumpet. The city of Knoxville was his playground, and he developed many life- long friends because of it; one of which is Mr. Edward “Meek” Cox who remained one of his best friends to date. Bill went to Austin High School where he was a member of the band playing his trumpet. After graduating from high school, he attended Tuskegee College in Tuskegee, Alabama, studied Dietician/Food Science and shortly thereafter married his wife of 64 years and 6 months, Helen Mattox who had attended high school with him. They moved to Wisconsin to start their lives with the help of Bill’s uncles Actor, Tate, and Marcus Mattox who were already settled in Kenosha with their families.
After serving overseas in the Army for a few years, Bill began a long career in the automotive manufacturing field working for Rambler, which became American Motors, which became Renault, which ultimately became Chrysler. He possessed a hard work ethic, working different shifts throughout his tenure in hopes that it would pay off in an upward trajectory in promotions. He was a no-nonsense man yet still had a sense of humor that was contagious. Bill was a big fan of Red Foxx as well as the television characters George Jefferson and Archie Bunker so needless to say Bill’s sense of humor often times bordered on the “non-politically correct”, but he made no apologies for it and for that we love him. Though the automotive field was his career path, anyone who knows Bill knows that his passion was baking. Pecan pies, chocolate torte cakes, fruit trifles, and biscuits were routine smells in the Mattox home, and it was not long before requests were coming in from friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. The Mattox family reunions were not reunions unless Bill’s pecan pies were sitting on a table.
After retiring from Chrysler, he was able to fulfill this passion upon being hired by Abbott Labs. While he was sitting in the interview the HR clerk asked him “what are some of your weaknesses?” Bill answered, “That’s easy, I don’t have any”. She laughed, hired him on the spot, and although he had come from automotive management, she spoke to a couple of people who agreed to let him create any lunch desert he wanted for 2 Abbott Lab cafeterias. Fast forward 6 months he now had an unlimited budget to create what he wanted while other kitchen members help mass produce it. They quickly offered him management, but he politely declined, knowing that the passion of creating deserts was greater than the desire to go back into management. After putting in a few years, Bill wanted to slow down a bit and spend more time at home so when he walked in to resign, HR immediately offered him an early retirement option instead. Bill had wonderful memories of working at Abbott.
Humble in nature, strong in character, with an extrovert personality, Bill knew no strangers. He considered many of his neighbors, retail clerks, medical staff, auto repairmen, lawn care keepers, and postal carriers’ family. But please do not misconstrue Bill’s welcoming demeanor for weakness! There were many a times that the McDonalds drive through staff had to apologize for only giving him .32 in change as opposed to the .72 which he was owed or the Walgreens clerk who saw him back in line waiting to get the 2 quarters in change that was owed to him as opposed to the 2 nickels that he was mistakenly given. He expected honest excellence because he gave honest excellence in everything that he did.
Bill was a role model, always without question took care of his household and was a loyal friend whom you could always count on to brighten your day. He will be greatly missed but will never be forgotten. Our loss is heaven’s gain. Special thanks to Dr Friedl and the entire medical team at Froedtert Kenosha and Pleasant Prairie Hospital system.
William “Bill” Oscar Mattox is survived by his son, Steven; daughter, Joan (Dan); and granddaughter, Raven as well as his brother-in-law, sister-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Helen; his parents, Mariette and Felix and his sister Christine.
Service Date January 29, 2021
Funeral services honoring William’s life will be held privately.
Interment will follow in Green Ridge Cemetery.
A visitation for William will be held on Friday, January 29, 2021 from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the Piasecki Funeral Home.
Due to public health concerns, and in compliance with CDC guidelines, only 50 people will be permitted to enter the funeral home at one time. For the safety of our guests, you may be asked to wait outside. Social distancing will be maintained and those in attendance are required to wear a face covering. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this difficult time.
