MASON, Walter Nelson 1928-2008

MASON, SMALL, DAVIS, RUBY, ROBERTSON, ROBBINS, SANDERS, DOONAN, KINNEY, COX, MCNABB, MCCLURE, MCGREW, GARMAN, MORRIS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 2/5/2017 at 07:59:54

Holland-Coble Funeral Home Obituaries

WALTER NELSON MASON

Walter Mason, 80, of New Sharon passed away Saturday, November 1, 2008 at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at the Harden Funeral Home in New Sharon. Visitation will begin at noon on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at the funeral home with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 Wednesday evening. His body will be cremated after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the New Sharon Fire and Rescue.

Walter Nelson Mason was born on February 15, 1928 near Delta, Iowa to Oliver and Bertha (Small) Mason. He attended country school and graduated from Barnes City High School. On November 6, 1950, he was inducted into the United States Army. On March 6, 1951, while home on leave, he married Lavonne June Davis in Oskaloosa. While serving in Korea, he was hit by machine gun fire in the foot and from shrapnel in the legs. He was taken prisoner of war. After being liberated, he was taken to the 141st General Hospital in Japan and then to Brooks Army Hospital in San Antonio, where he recuperated for one year. He received the Purple Heart. He retired from the Army in 1952 and he and Lavonne made their home in Union Mills but later moved to New Sharon. Walter worked for his brother, Norman and Mahaska County. He started working at the New Sharon Post Office in 1953, retiring in 1986 as the Postmaster. Walter was a charter Member of the Fuller-Saris American Legion Post #507 and was an active member of the Coffin-Miller American Legion Post #446. He attended the New Sharon Christian Church and belonged to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Ex-Prisoner of War and the New Sharon Fire Department. He enjoyed golfing with Norman, his brother, and several friends. He especially like to play golf with his son, Alan.

Walter's memory is honored by his son, Alan (Cheryl) Mason of Grapevine, Texas; five sisters, Mae Ruby of New Sharon, Wanda Robertson of Oskaloosa, Ivalene (David) Robbins of Oskaloosa, Wilma Sanders of Deep River and Nancy (Larry) Doonan of Barnes City; two brothers, Paul (Louella) Mason of Barnes City and Ernest (Joan) Mason of Oskaloosa; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Lavonne; his parents, Oliver and Bertha Mason; three brothers, William Mason, Oren Mason and Norman Mason; two sisters, Edith Kinney and Ina Cox; a sister-in-law, Hazel Mason; seven brothers-in-law, Oliver McNabb, Edward McClure, Max Robertson, Everett Cox, Phillip Sanders, Lawrence Ruby and Raymond Kinney; three half-sisters and their husbands, Gail (Merton) McGrew, Helen (Charley) Garman and Allene (Lewis) Morris.