Veteran, longtime Lions Club member leaves lasting legacy
VERMILION — Malcolm Adrian Mather, 87, a U.S. Air Force veteran, longtime Vermilion Lions Club member and familiar face in the community, passed away Oct. 17, 2026, of natural causes in Decatur, Georgia.
Born April 12, 1939, in Amherst to Adrian and Margaret (Smith) Mather, Malcolm graduated from Lorain High School before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force.
He served from 1957 to 1961, reaching the rank of senior airman while stationed in Germany and Crete. He continued his military service for an additional two years in the Air Force Reserve.
Following his military service, Malcolm built a long career in banking, beginning with Erie County Bank and eventually retiring from KeyBank. He later worked for the Ohio auditor of state and Lutheran Brotherhood/Thrivent.
A life of community service
Malcolm was deeply involved in the Vermilion community, particularly through his longtime membership in the Vermilion Lions Club, where he served multiple terms as president.
He and his wife, Judy, were also charter members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermilion. Malcolm played an important role in expanding the church’s sanctuary, helping establish a lasting place of worship for the congregation.
Outside his professional and community commitments, Malcolm was an avid Cleveland Indians fan who enjoyed sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge of baseball.
He also had a lifelong fascination with trains, both full-sized locomotives and model railroads. He enjoyed designing and building model train layouts for himself and friends.
Malcolm eventually retired to South Carolina, where he shared his home with his cats, Switcher, Gauge and Amtrak, names reflecting his passion for railroads.
Family and services
Malcolm is survived by his daughters, Adrienne Mather of Decatur, Georgia, and Stephanie Johnson of Vermilion; son-in-law, Kurt Johnson; and grandsons, Foster Johnson of Vermilion and Kole Johnson of New Jersey.
He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 25 years, Judith (Rohrbach) Mather; his parents; and his brother, David Mather.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
A graveside service and burial will follow at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst.
Memorial donations may be made in Malcolm’s name to Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermilion or a local animal shelter.
Online condolences and additional service information are available through Riddle Funeral Home.