FRANKLIN, IN.
Richard “Dick” Otto Matlock, of Franklin, IN sadly left us in his sleep at his home on July 24, 2022, just four days shy of his 92nd birthday. Dick was born on his family’s farm in Bloomington, Indiana on July 28, 1930, to Rose DiLoreto and Glen “Button” Matlock, then raised by his mother Rose Matlock Carrell and his grandparents Nick and Adolorata DiLoreto.
Sharp and charismatic, he was promoted at an early age even skipping a grade in the one-room schoolhouse he attended. He joked that the teachers just wanted to get him out of there early and he was grateful to them for redirecting his shenanigans into learning by having a student one grade ahead turn around and practice flash cards of times tables until the young Dick knew them by heart. Dick was a state championship wrestler at Bloomington High and made long lasting friendships with his wrestling teammates. Bloomington High Head Football Coach Fred Huff Jr described him in his letter of recommendation, “Dick isn’t too large, but makes up for his size by his determination – he doesn’t know the meaning of the word ‘quit’.”
A self-made man determined to not suffer the hardships experienced by his grandparents in the Depression era, he was motivated to find work in an array of industries, from Bloomington limestone quarries to laying railroad ties to fitting pipe on Louisiana, oil rigs. Through all of his experiences, he collected stories he was always quick to relate.
When he married Mabel Josephine Stanton in 1952, he said it made him “the luckiest dude alive.” Together they worked toward raising their family and building successful businesses. On the road all over southern Indiana, he worked in auto finance with CIT, which led him to Ford Motor Credit. While working for Ford Motor Credit, Herschel Hamilton approached him to partner in a dealership in Connersville, Indiana. He sold their house in Bloomington and whatever he could to buy into that partnership. He went on to own other dealerships in Rushville and Connersville.
In 1970, Dick and Mabel settled in Franklin, Indiana, opening the Matlock Ford car dealership on US31 where you could always find a great story or even breakfast most mornings for the next 50 years. The dealership consistently employed 30 people including the three oldest Matlock children. Finally selling the business in 2019, Dick Matlock retired at the age of 89.
Dick is survived by his beautiful wife of 70 years, Mabel Josephine (Stanton) Matlock of Franklin, IN and their four children and spouses, Pamela (Matlock) and Norman Young of Whiteland, IN, Denise Marie Matlock, William “Rick” Richard and Julia Ann (Hensley) Matlock all of Franklin, IN, Toni Nicole Matlock and Bruce Tribbensee of Missoula, Montana, his grandchildren Ted Young, Adam Michael Alexander, Travis Lee Young, Nicholas Matlock Alexander, Elana Marie Matlock, Elizabeth Ann Matlock, and Otto Fitch Tribbensee, and great-grandchildren Trevor Young, Tyler Young, Trey Young, Evelyn Young, Hamilton Young, Flossie Mabel Alexander, Harmony Ellen Matlock, and Sylvie Nicole Alexander, a stepbrother James “Jimmy” Carrell and his wife Shirley of Bloomington, IN, nieces Suzonne (Matlock) Bardwell and Nancy Rae (Matlock) McGehee.
Dick’s brother Raymond Matlock died in 1968.
If you have a Dick Matlock story to share with the family, please write it down and send it to The Matlock’s in care of Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) Franklin, IN 46131 or at www.swartzmortuary.com.
Father Paul Shikany will conduct a graveside service in Dick’s honor at 1:00pm on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin, IN. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages your support of the American Heart Association, 6500 Technology Center Dr, Ste 100, Indianapolis, IN 46278 or at www.heart.org, or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 50 E 91st St, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240 or at www.alz.org.
Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN is handling the arrangements. Information 317-738-0202.
