Matthew Arthur Unwin's Obituary
Matthew Arthur “Matt” Unwin was born in 1937 to Arthur and Jeanette Unwin (née Morrow). He was raised in Flint, Michigan, a brother to Harry, Sally, Joyce, Rosemary, Rita Ann, Wayne and Randal. From a young age he exemplified Boy Scout characteristics, showing a love for outdoor adventures, a knack for making and fixing things, and always being prepared. He showed independence and resourcefulness by repairing his own cars, constructing a log cabin in the woods, and driving across the country several times.
He joined the Navy after high school and was stationed in San Diego in 1956, serving as radio operator on the USS Hooper Island. While aboard he witnessed the historic underwater nuclear bomb tests conducted at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. He was on active duty in the Navy for two years.
After the Navy, he adopted San Diego as his hometown. He obtained an AA degree from San Diego City College and completed an apprenticeship at Convair to become a tool and die maker. His early work in this profession supported the Space Race, making high-precision rocket components. He then worked for 33 years at the Marine Science Development Shop at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, something he was very proud of. The shop’s location, overlooking La Jolla Shores, allowed lunch-hour swimming and boogie-boarding which he frequently did.
He met the love of his life, Virginia “Gail” O’Donovan in 1959 at a Catholic Youth Organization event. They enjoyed many CYO dances as well as group outings at the beach and the Laguna Mountains. They were engaged on Christmas Eve that year and married 6 months later. Their shared dream of a large family was realized over the next 14 years with the births of their beloved children, Jeanette, Arthur, Dianna, Sandra, James, Christi, Steven and John. They remained true to their vows in a loving marriage for over 65 years.
Matt was an extraordinarily devoted father and grandfather. Each child’s birth was to him a special miracle that he greeted with tears of joy and a heartfelt, “Praise the Lord”. He was a proud grandfather of 25 and great-grandfather of 15. He invested in each one, often taking them to the park to play on swings and slides. They could rely on him to be there for birthdays and graduations, supporting all the milestones of life which came. There are countless examples of him lending a hand with car breakdowns, moving, emergency room trips, and crises of every kind. He was a firm shoulder to cry on; a sympathetic ear in times of need.
In 1969, Matt and Gail became active in the charismatic movement of the Catholic Church. For many years they hosted prayer meetings in their home. Matt played guitar, and led singing worship songs, boldly proclaiming his love for God. He often shared his testimony about Jesus to strangers at the beach, hoping they would come to know Him too. Matt led the family in prayer before meals and sang praise songs to the children as a lullaby before bed. He exemplified and often quoted Proverbs 3:6, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
Matt was an avid outdoorsman, and especially enjoyed hobbies he could share with others. This included mountain biking, jeeping, hiking, fishing, birding and many other pursuits. He passed his Boy Scout experience to his sons by being a Scout Leader in Troop 208. In this role, he enjoyed canoeing the Colorado River. This became the destination for semi-annual family trips beginning in the 1970s through the early 2000s. Matt eventually bought a motor boat and became an avid water skier, teaching this skill, and so many others, to anyone who wished to learn.
His retirement, which began at age 61, was full of adventure. For 20 years he and Gail traveled to see the country, visit family, and enjoy places of historical interest and natural beauty. They always remembered their trips to Germany, England and Ireland. He volunteered his time and skills at St. Vincent de Paul as a handyman, and for San Diego Parks repairing bridges and cleaning up parks. In his downtime, he enjoyed reading history and taking a daily nap.
In his last few years, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He handled this with grace and courage, saying that he “tries to be joyful” in all his circumstances. Jesus took him home on August 2, 2025, a blessing to be freed from the difficulties he faced. As in the Apostle Paul’s letter, Philippians 1:27, Matthew Arthur Unwin lived his life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. He will always be missed and never forgotten.
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