Kenneth Oscar Mason

KENNETH OSCAR MASON August 21, 1918 ~ February 8, 2012 Kenneth Oscar Mason, 93, of Vancouver, WA, passed away at home on Feb. 8, 2012. He was born Aug. 21, 1918 to Pearle and Ida Mason in the Yacolt, WA. He was the great-grandson of early Clark County settlers, and the grandson of Levi Mason who operated the Mason Ferry across the Lewis River at the fish hatchery. As a boy he lived with his family in Spirit Lake, ID, where as a six-year-old he helped the logging camp cook make the famous lumberman flapjacks for the loggers. We have been told by a reliable source that Ken also learned how to take care of himself and others against the logging camp bullies. On a more tender side, Kenneth went to church as a young boy and was baptized in Spirit Lake. As a youth, Kenneth lived in Woodland and Ariel, WA working at various odd jobs at the local theater, creamery, and Hulda Kluger Lilac Gardens. He attended Woodland High School playing football and making the county football All-Stars. It was at Woodland where he met his high school sweetheart, Trula Wanless. On Oct. 23, 1941, Kenneth and Trula were married and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last Oct.. Kenneth played two years of college football, and then went on to become Alcoa Aluminum's youngest Line Forman in the country. He later enlisted in the Army Air Corp and served during WWII. After the War, Kenneth started his own excavation business. He sold his business and returned to college to earn his teaching degree and later his Master's in counseling. He was a Jr. High School teacher and counselor in the Vancouver School District for almost 30 years. Traveling, ballroom dancing and building a cabin on the Hood Canal with his wife Trula, kept Kenneth active during retirement. He loved to be with his family at the cabin or Nordic snow skiing with the grandchildren. He was a loving grandfather to his grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Kenneth was loved by his daughter-in-law as a father-in-law with a gentle loving heart. Kenneth will be missed by all of his family. Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Trula; his son, Craig and his wife (Mary Jane Macias) of Seattle, WA; his daughter, Jill Mason and her husband (Julius Horvath) of Vancouver; two grandsons, Carlos Macias-Mason and his wife (Abby Mason) of Anchorage, AK and Nicholas Macias-Mason of Seattle, WA; and two great-grandchildren, Marisol and Aaden Mason. He was preceded in death by his sister, Ruth; and his brother, Melvin. A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 14, 2012 at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Contributions may be made in Kenneth's name to the Thom Dudley Counseling Fund, Vancouver School District Foundation.

Kenneth Oscar Mason

August 21, 1918 - February 8, 2012