11/17/1980
Services for Dr. Dwight Albert Mater, well known Knoxville doctor, will be held Thursday, Nov. 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Evans-McCleery Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Mater died Monday, Nov. 17, 1980 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.
He retired Nov. 1, 1978 after 42 years of service in the medical profession.
Dr. Mater was born March 15, 1910 in Iowa City, the son of Dr. Roy Vinton and Mary Deliah Scridner Mater.
His early childhood was spent in Buxton, Colefield, Eddyville and Dallas.
The family moved to Knoxville in 1925, where he graduated from Knoxville High School in 1928.
He graduated in 1935 from the University School of Medicine. He served his internship at Mary's Help Hospital at San Francisco, Ca.
He began his medical practice in Knoxville in 1936, when joining his father at Mater Clinic. The hospital was in a house at 617 E. Montgomery. In 1940, Collins Hospital was built by Jay L. Collins on land donated to the city by his mother. The equipment was provided by the elder Mater.
Dr. Mater spent four and a half years as chief of surgery in the Army Air Corps at Scott AFB at St. Louis, Mo. and also worked at Lincoln AFB, Lincoln, Neb. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of major.
He was very active in community affairs in Knoxville, as well as state and national associations.
Dr. Mater served on the Knoxville School Board, was a 54-year member of the First United Methodist Church, 50-year member of Pine Knolls -County,
Club and a life-long member and past president of the Knoxville Rotary Club.
He was a board member of Area II Community College at Ankeny and was a member of the State Medical Association and American Medical Association.
In 1969 he was honored with the Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award.
He married Margaret Park on Dec. 27, 1958.
Survivors include his wife; four children, Dwight Mater, Jr., Rippon, Wisc.; Mary Lynn Albert, Hopkins, Minn.; Howard Mater, Denver, Colo.; Sally Mater, Phoenix, Ariz. and two step-children, Thomas and Nancy Park of Chicago, Ill.; sister, Alberta Elliott, Austin, Tx.; cousin, Dr. W. C. Boden, Sioux City.
Preceding him in death were his parents and first wife, Helen Boothe Mater.
Dr. Leonard Deaver will officate at the services.
Pallbearers will be Dr. George Andrew, Earle Bellamy, D. L. Job, Ned Job, Frank Elliott, Lloyd Scott and Walt Fall.
Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery.