Kenneth D. Matthews Jr. | Arcadia professor, 82

Kenneth D. Matthews Jr., 82, of Newtown Square, a history professor emeritus at Arcadia University, died of heart failure Friday at his home.

Dr. Matthews, who specialized in ancient Rome, taught at the former Beaver College from 1973 until his retirement in 1988. He was an expert on the history of Grey Towers Castle, the main building on Arcadia's campus. The mansion, designed by Horace Trumbauer in 1893, was purchased by Arcadia in 1929. In 1985, on the basis of Dr. Matthews' research, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Before joining Arcadia, Dr. Matthews was director of education for 20 years at the University of Pennsylvania's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. He developed programs for children; hosted a weekly radio program, Accent on Antiquity; and was a panelist on What in the World, a program on WCAU-TV (Channel 10).

He was witty and knowledgeable, his sister Gwendolyn Holmes said. When a woman called the museum to ask how to make a mummy costume for Halloween, he told her to wear a leotard wound over with gauze "aged" in coffee. He informed another caller that an authentic Egyptian goddess costume would be too scant for public appearance.

Dr. Matthews earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in history from Penn. He enjoyed lecturing visitors on tours to Europe and the Middle East.

In addition to his sister, he is survived by his longtime companion, Raymond Mills; two nephews; and two nieces.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Spring Brook Congregational Church, 213 Beech Rd., Spring Brook Township, Pa. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Spencer T. Videon Funeral Home, 400 Shadeland Ave., Drexel Hill. Burial will be in Spring Brook Cemetery.