Cliff Mathews, a resident of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., died July 31, 2013, at the age of 87 after a long illness.

He was born and raised in Pasadena, Calif.

Cliff joined the US Navy in 1943 at the age of 17 and served as an aerial gunner on aircraft carrier-based torpedo bombers engaged in search and destroy missions against German submarines.  

In 1944 his plane was shot down over the North Atlantic, making him a member of an exclusive World War II organization called the Goldfish Club. Although suffering a head injury, he was rescued by a US destroyer and later flew more missions.  

After the war he returned to California and worked for many more years for AT&T, retiring in 1982 as an electrical engineer based in San Francisco.

Following his retirement he relocated to Clearlake Oaks with his wife Rosemary, who preceded him in death in 2008.

Cliff is survived by his three sons from his first marriage, Dan, Ron, and Tom; his son, Cort, and daughter, Cathy, from his marriage to Rosemary; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A family gathering will be held at a later date.

For further information call Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .