Rodney Adams Mason

Rodney Adams Mason died peacefully in his sleep on July 24, 2022, at the age of 78. Rod is survived by his loving wife, Nancy McDonald Mason, daughter Ann Mason Rigby, son Charles Adams Mason, son-in-law Sam Rigby, and grandchildren Charlie and Anna Rigby. He also leaves behind his brother and best friend, William (“Bill”) Brian Mason, and thirteen nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles (“Tex”) and Beatrice, elder brother Charles, and sisters-in-law Patricia and Susan.

Born in Washington, D.C. in 1943, Rod grew up with his brothers in Takoma Park, Maryland. He graduated from Blair High School and enlisted in the United States Navy before his 18th birthday. He advanced to Radioman Petty Officer Second Class, and was authorized to wear the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal by virtue of service on board three minesweepers, including the USS-FIRM (MSO-444) in the Vietnam Combat Zone in 1965.

After his honorable discharge, Rod began what would become a 30-year career with the State Department. His service took him first to Belgium, and then to Norway, where he met Nancy. After they married 50 years ago this year, Rod and Nancy were posted to Guyana, Jamaica, Colombia, Chile, Pakistan, Uruguay, and Venezuela, before retiring to their home in McLean, Virginia. Along the way, Rod studied art history at American University.

Rod was a renaissance man. He had a dry sense of humor paired with impeccable timing. He taught himself to play guitar as a teenager, and banjo and pedal steel as an adult. Throughout his life, he entertained family and friends with his strumming, his beautiful singing voice, and his broad repertoire of bluegrass, country, and R&B. He passed these talents along to his son Charles, to the delight of everyone who heard them play together. Rod’s artistry extended to the kitchen, painting, and carpentry: He lived by firm rules (many of his own invention) on how to prepare a steak or crab cake, created art for the home he shared with Nancy, and could build anything from scratch (such as his pool table) or fix anything (like his 1934 Ford). His retirement was full of tinkering and his excellent golf game. He enjoyed the company of his adoring grandchildren, with whom he shared his love of classic comedy, Wile E. Coyote, and sports, and to whom he sought to impart his skills in poker, pool, and puns. He will be sorely missed.

A Rite of Christian Funeral will be held at 11 am on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101. Following the service, there will be a reception from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

The family requests those who wish to express sympathy consider making a donation in Rod's name to the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in lieu of sending flowers, via inovacancer.org/donate. Donations will go toward ensuring that those less fortunate than Rod can receive the same excellent quality of care that he did at Schar

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.murphyfuneralhomes.com for the Mason family.