Sharon Lenore Burns Matthews

Sharon Lenore Burns Matthews, the daughter of Col. Luther William and Bonnie Lambright Burns, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 22, 2024. 

Sharon was born in Alexandria, Louisiana, to Col. Luther W Burns,  and Bonnie L. Burns. She attended the University of Georgia where she was a member of Tri Delta Sorority; later, she graduated from the University of Southern California where she earned a BA degree in Art History and received the award for the most promising student in Art History. 

She was an accomplished artist who was known for her portraits and landscapes. Over the years, she won many awards for her paintings, especially her abstracts. 

She met her first husband, Robert W. Krutz, Jr. in Honolulu, Hawaii where her parents were stationed at Hickam AFB, and Robert was a Navy Ensign. 

She was an Air Force wife for almost twenty years and was very devoted to her children, volunteer work, entertaining, and of course, her painting. Alas, things changed and a second marriage began with Dudley Matthews. 

While living in San Antonio, Sharon volunteered as a docent at the McNay Art Museum, the League of Women Voters and the Texas State Hospital, where she taught art to mentally disabled children and adults. 

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Col, Luther and Bonnie Burns of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, her son, Robert W, Krutz, Jr. of San Antonio, Texas, her first husband, Dr. Robert W. Krutz, Jr. originally of Belzoni, MS, and Dudley M Matthews of San Antonio, Texas.

 She is survived by her daughter Karen Krutz Horne Begley (Sam), Jackson, MS, her grandson, Christopher Dylan Horne (Vale) of Arvada, Colorado and her cousins, Sonya Ryland Millican and Rhett Ryland of Baton Rouge, LA and Ronnie Burns and Ann Jane Burns LaHood of Alexandria, LA. 

A graveside service was held at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Vernon Parish, LA on October 26, 2024.