Memories of Willy Henson aka Tobin Matthews

In memory of

Willy Henson aka Tobin Matthews

Fair Oaks, IN

November 6, 1940 - January 17, 2020

Nov 6, 1940 - Jan 17, 2020

Help keep everyone in the know by sharing this memorial website.

Share

Story

Condolence

Year (Optional)

Location (Optional)

Caption

YouTube/Facebook/Vimeo Link

Caption

Who is in this photo?

Or start with a template for inspiration

About you

What was your relationship to Willy?

Cancel

By posting this memory, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Marge Embry

Met Willy while we were at Dr.Shaws office for cancer treatment s in 2016 . SORRY HE passed away..Marge..

Read More Read Less

Ken Heinemann

every Shoot he was on

You could always count on Willy to be "Willy" fun to be with and an easy going guy. Anytime Willy was on a shoot with us it was fun for sure.. I remember in Malibu on a shoot with Ian Zering form the tv show "Beverly Hills 90210" I made Willy take of a carpenters apron that he was wearing. because it was "just out of place on location" but that was Willy always looking for a better way to get things done. I miss him dearly!

Read More Read Less

Benjamin Lee

Shared a heart

Jamie Valimont

About 50 years ago I was 12 or 13 years old and living in Detroit, Michigan. Tobin aka Willy was doing a personal appearance to promote his song Susan. I really wanted to meet him, so I made up a story that I wanted to interview him for my school newspaper ( I wasn’t even on the newspaper staff). They led me backstage and introduced me to Tobin. He was so kind to this silly kid. After the “interview” he asked if I wanted to meet any of the other celebrities at the event. Thanks to Tobin, I also got to interview Fess Parker (Davy Crockett) and Roger Smith (77 Sunset Strip and Ann Margrets husband). I felt so guilty afterwards that I submitted my article to the paper and they printed it! I mailed a copy to Tobin and we became pen pals. He would mail me copies of his new recordings which made me feel very special. He was a very nice man who made a silly teen girl feel that someone cared. My deepest condolences, I hope he had a happy life.

Read More Read Less

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

FC Wong

Sorry to hear of Willy‘s passing on . He provided us with hours of great listening pleasure especially “Susan” . I wrote him almost 10 years ago to say hello and ask for a karaoke link for “Susan “. Willy will always be remembered by the the over 60s here in Malaysia for “Susan” .. God bless … kind regards FC Wong , Malaysia

Read More Read Less

Please consider a donation to any cause of your choice.

$100.00

Raised by 2 people

Learn more & give

Keli Lukowski

Sorry to hear of your father. I remember willie and bonnie??? Didn't they live out by ponderosa in indiana? My name is keli Lukowski and my parents were Richard (Lukey) and Beverly. Do you remember my family?

Read More Read Less

Holly Rigsby

Comments:

Holly Rigsby

Thank you Keli,
Yes I do remember!!!
The house is Fair Oaks - near DeMotte, IN.
Nice to connect with... Read more Thank you Keli,
Yes I do remember!!!
The house is Fair Oaks - near DeMotte, IN.
Nice to connect with you. Thank you Keli,
Yes I do remember!!!
The house is... Read more

Judith Wolcott

I just had my 75th birthday and a good friend gifted me with Tobin’s autograph from our teenage years when we met Tobin! He was performing at Shadowland Ballrrom in St. Joe at a Jim Lounsbury event. Tobin had us swooning with his dark eyes, the cleft in his chin, and that smile! He even danced with each of his fans! Such a memory that us 2 old ladies still cherish it this many years later!

Read More Read Less

Holly Rigsby

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Comments:

Holly Rigsby

Happy Birthday!!! What a wonderful memory. I can absolutely see my Dad stepping off stage and dancing with... Read more Happy Birthday!!! What a wonderful memory. I can absolutely see my Dad stepping off stage and dancing with the ladies. Thank you... Read more Happy Birthday!!! What a wonderful memory. I can absolutely... Read more

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

My dear Uncle Rod, who is also no longer with us, brought Tobin to my home town in 1966 to stay with my family while on a short tour stop in Elmira, NY. It was arranged for him to sing at my high school and also a Bobbie Brooks sponsored Junior Miss tea I attended. He sang “Pretty Blue Eyes” looking right at me the whole time... at 16, one can imagine my fluttering heart and lasting memories. “Bye Bye Birdie” in real life! Via Tobin’s blog, we began catching up with each other eight years ago, and as I got to know him my teenage crush became a very dear friend. Missing my rock star, and am so grateful for all we shared over these eight years. My heart is with Holly and Carrie and their families in the loss of their Dad and grandfather.

Read More Read Less

Holly Rigsby

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Kathy DeNormandie

I wish I had gotten a chance to know him better. The only real time I spent with him was when he went with my husband Grant and I up to a Rush Street Reunion in Chicago. Your Dad kept expressing how surprised he was when I drove the expressways to Chicago. His jaw hit the floor when I dropped off him and Grant at the front door of the party and went to park the car myself in a parking garage. He was so sweet all night and stayed by my side while my husband went and made his rounds. I kept joking with him that he was a good date. Such a sweet sweet man, he will be missed greatly

Read More Read Less

Holly Rigsby

Carrie Felger

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Comments:

Holly Rigsby

Thank you for sharing this Kathy! Thank you for sharing this Kathy! Thank you for sharing this Kathy!

PEGGY L. HALL

WILLY ALWAYS TALKED ON THE PHONE AND TALKED MOSTLY ABOUT THE LOVE OF MUSIC..AND THINGS THAT WE HAD GONE THREW IN LIFE..
WILLY WAS ALWAYS HAPPY GUY AND LOVED LIFE..
I WILL MISS MY COUSIN, I JUST HAVE ONE MORE THING TO SAY;
KEEP SINGING WILLY!!!

Read More Read Less

Judith Rebollo

Holly Rigsby

Carrie Felger

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Comments:

Holly Rigsby

You guys had some great conversations! You guys had some great conversations! You guys had some great conversations!

Holly Rigsby

Dad's "L-1" last one, final chemo treatment!

Read More Read Less

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Comments:

Holly Rigsby

He was so happy to ring the bell this day. I remember him sitting in the waiting room with such excitement...... Read more He was so happy to ring the bell this day. I remember him sitting in the waiting room with such excitement... yet at the same ... Read more He was so happy to ring the bell this day. I remember... Read more