Shamim N. Mathias

RED LION – Shamim N. Mathias, 79, passed away Sunday, April 28, 2013 at his home. He was the husband of Gladys E. (Kunden) Mathias to whom he was married for 54 years. A celebration of life tribute service will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, May 2, 2013 at Life Tributes by Olewiler & Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 35 Gotham Place, Red Lion with his pastor, The Rev. Harold E. Snyder officiating. A viewing will be held from 9-10:00 AM Thursday at the Funeral Home. Burial will be in Windsor Cemetery. Born October 21, 1933 in Gujranwala, Pakistan a son of the late Naizer and Shanti Mathias, he earned his Bachelors Degree in Pakistan. Mr. Mathias then worked as a language teacher, editor for an adult literacy council, and served as a correspondence writer for Time Magazine. In 1974 Shamim immigrated to the United States, sacrificing a great deal of success in Pakistan in order to better his family’s lives in the US. In the US, Mr. Mathias worked at Caterpillar Inc. and Graham Packaging Inc. before his retirement. He was a member of Full Gospel Businessman’s Fellowship Intl., Emmanuel United Methodist Church, and had served on the Windsor Borough Planning Commission. Shamim enjoyed flying remote controlled airplanes, cherished spending time with his wife and family, and had a passion for photography. He was also fluent in six languages. In addition to his wife, Mr. Mathias is survived by a son, Shah M. Mathias and former wife, Debra Mathias of Red Lion and his children, Sarah and Jewel Mathias, and grandson, Paxton Wolf; a daughter, Shaheen B. and husband Steve Trout of York and their daughters, Amanda and Ashley Trout, and grandson, Elias Black; and a son, Shahjahan “Chuck” Mathias and wife Pam of Ephrata and their son, Matthew Mathias; a brother, Nasim Mathias of British Columbia, Canada; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by five of Shah Mathias’s children; two brothers, Saleem and Kim Mathias; and two sisters, Ruby Dais and Regina Sultan. Memorial contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels, c/o Red Lion Area Senior Center, 20C Gotham Place, Red Lion, PA 17356.